Suriname not responsible for stranded foreigners

“Suriname is not responsible for foreigners who are stranded here but we are always willing to help so if these people need help while they are waiting for a chance to return to their country, our citizens are free to help them. It is not easy to be stranded in a foreign country so this is the most humane thing that we can do,” said Danielle Veira, director at the nation’s

National Security Directorate. Officials suspect that a large number of Cubans and Dutch nationals are stranded in Suriname and that they can’t go back to their countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the closing of the airspace. These people have been stranded in Suriname for over a month. Many of them have run out of money and are looking for a place to stay and food.

“These people must go to their embassies or consulates in Suriname or in the region to ask for help because we are also responsible for taking care of all the Surinamese nationals who are stranded abroad. Other countries must also look after their own people. It is not our task to take care of these people but if they ask for help, our citizens are free to lend a helping hand.

The Surinamese authorities will also think of ways to help them. I ask those people who want to go back to be patient because it will take a while longer.” Surinamese officials will reportedly meet with Brazilian organizations that take care of Brazilian nationals who are stranded in Suriname so that they can also receive information about COVID-19 in their native language.