Over 1000 African students studying at various universities and institutions of higher learning in China’s Hubei Province have complained of neglect from their home governments since the outbreak of the Coronavirus epidemic in Wuhan China. Wuhan is main city of China’s Hubei province where the coronavirus was discovered weeks ago. Sources in Wuhan say there are a large contingent of Africans mostly students in Wuhan. Ethiopians make up the largest number of over 300 followed by Ghana, Gabon, Morocco, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Nigeria among others. Wuhan is seen as a melting pot of students from different parts of the world.
Aside Morocco and Kenya, that has responded to repatriate their nationals from Wuhan to safer cities in China, other African countries have turned deaf ears to the yearnings of their citizens in Wuhan. Speaking on the situation, an Ethiopian student holed up in Wuhan Soliana Aregawi said that over 300 students from Ethiopia are stranded in Wuhan. According to her, all calls to the Ethiopian Embassy for assistance have been ignored, and requests for evacuation at the early stage of the outbreak were equally ignored by the government. On what life in Wuhan is since the lock-down, Soliana said that “I keep a journal so that keeps me busy, I also read books that I’ve saved up when I find the time, and watch movies. I also update my family and friends on the situation here”.
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On her desire to be evacuated out of Wuhan, she said that she is open to evacuation if the proper measures are taken such as quarantine for 14 days and getting tested for the virus. “The reason why is; I’ve already graduated I have no reason for staying. Add to that, the fact that schools have postponed the opening day for students who will continue their studies”. She added that “the longer you stay the more exposed you might be to the virus taken the proper measures from our country I think evacuation is the right approach”.
On how they are coping with the lock-down, she said that she has everything she needs in the house, same as many others “I don’t go out but I would say my biggest fear would be getting infected. These are people fighting the virus. They’re wives, husbands, mothers… Doctors are the unsung heroes of a nation. Let’s take this moment to acknowledge the doctors in Wuhan. They’re risking their lives everyday to save others” she added.
She said that she is worried about home because her family back in Ethiopia is quite worried about her safety, but that she is coping quite well by keeping in touch with home. “My parents call me twice a day. My friends also contact me frequently. I reassure them I’m fine and update them on any information I have. I am fine so I don’t want creating unnecessary worries plus the Chinese are doing their best to contain the virus”.
She commended the efforts being made by the Chinese authorities to contain the epidemic saying that “Wuhan University has taken measures like providing masks and disinfectants. They have also opened an online program on Wechat to buy some groceries and they will deliver it to the dorms”. She however, added that frustration levels of the students are on the rise because of the psychological effect of living in a lock-down situation. To ease this, she suggested that “It would be helpful and would ease the burden for most us if we get a clear direction of what is next from our government so we can better equip ourselves for what is to come”.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry