Government will send humanitarian flights for tourists stranded in Leticia, but at a cost

17 days have passed since the closure of Alfredo Vásquez Cobo airport in Leticia, capital of the department of Amazonas, and nine days since those concerned asked for alternatives, for the national government to decide on the possibility of sending humanitarian flights to evacuate to those who, for reasons of study, work or tourism, were trapped in the city.

It should be remembered that the Amazonian capital has been cut off from the rest of the country since January 28, when the presence of the new Brazilian strain of covid-19 has been confirmed -Considered as more contagious- in the town of Tabatinga, belonging to this country and with which Leticia maintains open border relations.

“As a preventive measure, given the circulation of the new strain in Brazil and the situation happening in Manaus (city in Brazil), we had talks with the governor of the department of Amazonas and with the mayor of Leticia. , so we will take an additional measure, From tomorrow, passenger air operations to and from Leticia will be suspended “The president said at the time, without giving details of what would happen to those who do not reside in the city.

According to a report by Caracol Noticias, around 200 people like Stephany Arizala have arrived for tourism and are now asking that “Please help us get home, we have met a group that has older adults, who have children and who need to return home”. Like hers, there are many testimonies from those who spent all their resources paying for accommodation and food for more days than they originally planned. The cry, in all cases, is that of a humanitarian flight that allows them to return home.

However, no government entity had spoken on the issue until today, when the Ministry of Health confirmed the existence of a possible humanitarian theft in a statement. In this, he indicates that the air route has been authorized in coordination with the Secretariat of Health of Bogotá, provided people stay in isolation at a designated hotel and have a PCR test on arrival, in addition to the 14-day isolation.

In addition, he recognizes the need for a new flight Leticia – Bogotá and explains that “the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the Secretariat of Health of Bogotá will only authorize these flights to the extent that the protocols are strictly observed, Passengers sign a 14-day isolation and compliance test pledge for positives; and 7 days for negatives until a second test, in a hotel designated by the Secretariat, since the imperative is to protect the health of Colombians and to be more aware of the start of the National Vaccination Plan ”.

At this time, the date and logistics behind these frequencies have not been confirmed. However, a report from Blu Radio indicates that those affected are not satisfied with the alternative offered by the government. Yessica Chávez, a tourist waiting to return home to Popayán, told the station that “They are very expensive, they cost a million and a half and we have already bought our tickets, it is already affecting us psychologically.”

The problem is that, if this alternative is not taken, will have to wait until March 2, when it is presumed that they will resume operations at the airport, with the respective return of the commercial airlines with which travelers have purchased tickets.

Also read: Colombia records 4,947 new cases of covid-19 and 229 deaths, this Saturday, February 13