Glasgow couple trapped in Peru: ‘As yet, we have no answers at all’

A couple from Scotland are among the 400 Britons currently stranded in Peru after the South American nation closed its borders last week due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Nadine Cohen and Euan Gray take a selfie during their trip to HuarazNadine Cohen and Euan Gray take a selfie during their trip to Huaraz
Nadine Cohen and Euan Gray take a selfie during their trip to Huaraz

Nadine Cohen, 29, and Euan Gray, 31, are currently holed up in a hostel in Huaraz – a small city 3,000m above sea level – along with 35 other tourists from around the world.

The couple, from Glasgow, cannot leave their accommodation due to a 15-day quarantine imposed by the Peruvian government. Nadine, a primary school teacher, told Scotland on Sunday that communicating with the outside world was “difficult” and that they currently did not know when they would be able to return home. “Peru’s borders are closed and the streets are packed with military and police to minimise movement and travel,” she said.

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The couple had been offered a flight from Lima, the Peruvian capital, to London, but were unable to make the seven-hour journey from Huaraz due to a ban on internal travel.

“If we had a date that we knew when we would return it would make the waiting more bearable,” Nadine continued. “However, as of yet we have no answers at all.

“As expected, our airline, Iberia, and travel insurance company, Alpha Travel, have not provided any support and have merely offered us a voucher for travel – which is useless as we cannot claim it until after the crisis has passed. The insurance company has given us no guarantee that our claim will be successful, or that we will be financially reimbursed for the costs accumulated during the state of emergency.”

She added: “I find it hard to believe that everything will be open after these 15 days, making travel difficult.

“There are rumours circulating that the quarantine ban will be lifted for three days, before another 15-day quarantine period begins.

“If true, in that time, we would need to find a way to Lima. However, no flights are confirmed so we could then be stuck in the capital.”

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC on Friday that he asked the Peruvian authorities to lift restrictions so rescue flights could start bringing people home.

But the UK government 
says tourists must pay for their own airline tickets home once a flight becomes available.

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Speaking to the broadcaster, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps added that he had spoken with airlines and airports last week, and that the UK government was expecting to announce a further series of support measures shortly.

Shapps urged any British passengers overseas planning to return to the UK soon to “take account of the fast-moving situation and plan accordingly while flights remain available”.

For Nadine and Euan, it will be an anxious few days spent checking online news. “We feel the Peru government has responded very quickly to the situation, and they have the Peruvian people’s interests at heart,” she said.

“However, they could have perhaps given more notice to foreign travellers before imposing such strict restrictions.”

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