The new coronavirus outbreak has suspended the construction work in Algeria, which affected many people including sub-Saharan migrants.
Dozens of sub-Saharan nationals take Algeria as a transit station to collect money before moving on to the southern bank of the Mediterranean.
Khalil, a Nigerien citizen who has secretly entered Algeria through its southern borders a year ago, told Asharq Al-Awsat that he lives with 10 other illegal migrants in a construction site in the capital’s southern suburb.
He said these 10 migrants come from three different African countries, and they are working with him on a residential project for a former minister.
“We are all forced, like the rest of Algerians, to evacuate the streets from 3 pm, when the curfew imposed by the state is due,” he said.
“Since the project owner informed us that the project will be suspended until the end of the pandemic, we had to spend from our savings we had set aside to travel to Italy.”
He expressed hope that this crisis ends soon so that they can resume work to save money and achieve the goal they have risked their lives for.
In another construction site, Asharq Al-Awsat met with a number of migrants who were working hard to complete the construction of a villa.
One Guinean national said they were waiting for the project owner to give them their $10 worth daily wage.
He expressed concern, noting that when he finishes this construction work, he will be forced to search for another site, which is currently impossible in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
About 2,000 sub-Saharan citizens are in the capital, Algiers, according to a source from the Interior Ministry. “Some work in trade markets, which are currently closed, while others work in either government-affiliated construction sites or private sites.”
The source noted that deporting illegal immigrants to the southern borders stopped in line with the measures taken to face the pandemic, including reducing movement between regions to reduce virus spread.
.jpg?w=600)
