A journey back to Kinshasa this summer was anticipated by Jonathan Likongo as an opportunity to reunite with his family after a two-year stint in Montreal for studies. However, the Université de Montréal student opted to remain in Canada, concerned that leaving might impede his return. “I had plans to depart, but as a precautionary measure, I chose not to,” Likongo explained.
This decision proved beneficial as in May, Canada implemented temporary regulations restricting entry for specific foreign nationals from several central African countries due to the Ebola outbreak. In July, the country took it a step further by announcing the denial of entry to foreign nationals who had visited the Democratic Republic of Congo within the preceding 21 days. These restrictions are scheduled to be enforced until Aug. 29.
The timing has posed challenges for students like Likongo, who are part of the Congolese Students’ Association at Université de Montréal, especially those who had travel plans during the summer break. Likongo expressed, “The disease emerged right in the midst of the holiday season. Some individuals were caught off guard by these stringent measures.”
Numerous students are expected to be impacted by these measures, with universities in Quebec estimating that hundreds of students from countries like the D.R.C., Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda could face disruptions to their academic pursuits. Planning for various scenarios, universities are assisting students in navigating these uncertainties.
As the deadline of Aug. 29 approaches, students stranded outside of Canada are anxious about what the future holds. Health Canada stated to CBC that they are closely monitoring the Ebola outbreak and will reassess the measures in conjunction with global partners based on the latest information before the current restrictions expire.
For Likongo and others in a similar predicament, the hope is for a swift resolution and an end to the disease so they can reunite with their families soon.
