This archive report was first published on 11 July 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe, many people have found themselves stranded in foreign lands, away from their loved ones and struggling to make ends meet.
One such individual is Caroline M A Otieno, a dual citizen of Kenya and the Netherlands, who has been stuck in Brussels, Belgium for the past four months. Caroline and her 13-year-old daughter were visiting friends in Brussels when the lockdown was imposed in March.
Caroline, a freelance writer, was hospitalized on March 4 after developing a sore throat, which turned into a flu. She was tested for COVID-19 but the results came back negative. Despite feeling unwell, Caroline was discharged from St. Pierre Hospital on March 11, only to find herself stuck in the city with her daughter.
Caroline has been relying on her family in Kenya and friends in Belgium and Singapore to sustain her during this difficult time. She has also been doing some freelance writing to make ends meet. The Belgian government began easing the lockdown in May, and Caroline's daughter has been able to attend school twice a week.
Another couple, Wamuyu and Dos Kariuki, are also stranded in a foreign land. The couple, who are attempting to bike around the globe, were supposed to be celebrating their second anniversary of their quest on July 2. However, they found themselves stuck in Managua, Nicaragua, after the COVID-19 lockdowns were imposed in Europe.
Wamuyu and Dos had navigated the south lower part of the African continent before flying to South America and riding their way up from Argentina. They had planned to spend one week in Nicaragua getting visas for Honduras and Guatemala, but the borders were closed, leaving them stranded.
The couple has been staying at a hostel in Managua, where they have been observing social distancing and sanitizing rules. They have also been taking precautions in supermarkets and government offices. Despite the challenges, Wamuyu and Dos remain optimistic and are looking forward to returning home to Kenya soon.
