“This decision by the Gambian authorities has left prospective passengers travelling to Banjul … stranded in these west African countries,” said an airport official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Brussels Airlines, which transits in Freetown from Europe, is only allowed to drop passengers there, but not pick anyone up.”
The outbreak in Guinea is one of the most deadly in history, with 168 cases “clinically compatible” with Ebola virus disease reported, including 108 deaths, since the start of the year, according to the World Health Organization. The outbreak began in the impoverished country’s southern forests, but has spread to Conakry, a sprawling port city on the Atlantic coast and home to two million people
Neighbouring Liberia has reported 20 probable or suspected cases, six lab-confirmed cases and 13 deaths. Mali also has suspected cases but does not appear to have been targeted for any kind of restrictions by the Gambia, although there are no direct flights between the two countries.
There was no immediate official confirmation of the ban from the Gambia but an airport worker told AFP a letter dated April 10 enforcing the measures had been sent to airlines while Sierra Leone’s government said it was in talks with Banjul over the issue. It was not immediately clear if sanctions were being threatened against airlines or airport authorities for ignoring the ban.
“I went to the Gambia Bird office in the Greater Banjul area to purchase an air ticket for my elder brother currently in Sierra Leone but was informed by the travel agent that they are not selling tickets to passengers travelling from Monrovia and Freetown,” Banjul resident Nyima Sanneh told AFP.
“I was told that my brother should instead board a flight to Dakar and later to Banjul. My brother and his colleagues are currently stranded in Monrovia.” Sierra Leone, has no living suspected cases, although two probable victims died and were buried before they could be tested. The country said it was not questioning the Gambia’s right to take action but had no idea of the rationale behind the decision.
“The government of Sierra Leone is currently engaging the Gambian government on the issue and providing all details of the surveillance system put in effect against the disease,” said government spokesman Abdulai Bayratay. “We still have no confirmed laboratory test of any Ebola outbreak here and this has been certified by the WHO, working with our health teams. Sierra Leonean air passengers are travelling freely to Britain, Belgium and all over the world without hindrance.”
Witnesses at Freetown’s Lungi International Airport told AFP around 100 Sierra Leoneans, mostly traders, had been planning trips to the Gambia but had seen their flights cancelled. “My business in now near ruin. I have accepted money from people planning for a wedding and I was due to return in few days time to deliver the goods but with the ban now on, I am in a jam,” textile trader Alimamy Turay told AFP.
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