Morales calls Bolivia to evacuate citizens from Chile

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Bolivia's former President Evo Morales asked for the evacuation of Bolivians in Chile amid coronavirus outbreak, accusing the de facto government of not taking the necessary steps.

"I ask that our compatriots who are in Chile be repatriated. It is inhumane and illegal to leave children, pregnant women, and the elderly in such conditions," Morales said in a Twitter message late Monday, adding: "It is an inalienable duty of the State to watch over its citizens anywhere in the world."

The government led by Jeanine Anez has allowed several European and Israeli citizens to be repatriated at the request of several states, Morales said, and added: "It is inadmissible that they do not make an effort to rescue our compatriots in Chile."

Although the number of cases and deaths seems low in majority of Latin American countries compared to the other continents, the spread of the virus accelerates each day.

Following the confirmation of the first coronavirus-related death in Bolivia on Sunday, five more people lost their lives from the epidemic, while 107 confirmed cases recorded so far, according to the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Chile is eight, but the confirmed cases already topped the 2,400.

The novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan, China in December. There are currently more than 800,000 cases worldwide and above 37,800 deaths, with over 166,700 recoveries.

Despite the severity of the virus, most people experience mild symptoms and recover.