HOLIDAYMAKERS stranded abroad are begging the British public for help paying for their flights home, with fears they could be forced to sleep rough.
British tourists are currently stuck in countries such as the Philippines, Peru and Australia after the countries closed their borders and airlines cancelled flights.
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Crowdfunding page GoFundMe said a keyword search on its website shows a 54 per cent increase in campaigns in the last week mentioning being stuck abroad.
Elizabeth Hazlewood, from Shrewsbury, created a crowdfunding page after being left stranded in Tunisia.
The 52-year-old support worker travelled to the country on March 6 and was scheduled to fly back on Wednesday, but her flight was cancelled after the country suspended commercial flights.
She is currently in a hotel in the capital Tunis and waiting further instructions from the British embassy: “I am running out of money rapidly. I really am stressed because of the situation and feel totally lost and alone.”
George McMillan, from Scotland, set up a crowdfunding campaign after being stuck in Florida with his wife and two children following a dream trip to Disney World.
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The family flew out on March 5, only to have their holiday plans were scuppered after Disney World Florida announced it would close due to the coronavirus outbreak.
George, who suffers from Crohn’s disease, said their flights to the UK were cancelled and they were soon to be kicked out of their hotel.
He said: “It’s been very stressful, more so these last few days as in two days time that’s us out of the hotel. I have enough medication to see me through to about Saturday.”
While flights have been arranged for their return, Mr McMillan said they were not guaranteed.
“There is (so) much conflicting information, we are effectively in the dark,” he added.
‘I’LL DIE HERE’ Brits stranded abroad by coronavirus lockdown beg government to get them home
Adam Smith and his girlfriend are stuck in El Salvador and have slammed the UK government as being “responsive but so far lacking any detailed plan of action”.
A GoFundMe spokesman said: “A quick keyword search shows a rise in campaigns for stranded families.
“We’ve got our fingers crossed for all Brits trying to get back home before borders and travel routes close.”
In a speech to the House Of Commons yesterday, the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab explained that they are helping to secure flights with a number of countries including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Peru.
He said: “Where commercial options are limited or prevented by domestic restrictions, we are in close contact with the airlines and local authorities in those countries to overcome those barriers to enable people to return home.
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However, MP Caroline Nokes, who previously served as immigration minister, said travellers were facing closed embassies and little help.
She explained “the vision of British citizens sleeping rough on the streets of Caracas is not a good one” and calls the government’s promises “empty”.
A spokesman from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: “We recognise British tourists abroad are finding it difficult to return to the UK because of the unprecedented international travel and domestic restrictions that are being introduced around the world – often with very little or no notice.
“The Government is seeking to keep key transit routes open as long as possible and is in touch with international partners and the airline industry to make this happen.”
Governments around the world are slowly starting to help people return – in Peru, the government has agreed to run special flights back to the UK, while Singapore is working with the government to help stranded nationals transit.
Travellers are still struggling to get home, both through a lack of flights and lack of money.
Jack Cassidy and his family have been forced to sleep at the airport for 24 hours after the flight home from Phuket was cancelled.
Jack, who was on holiday with his parents and little brother, told Sky News: “If we get stuck here, we’ve got no more money. We’ve spent everything we’ve got, all our family members savings.”
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Mum-of-two Pauline and joiner husband Steve from Essex are stuck in Dubai after their transfer flights were cancelled.
She said: “We’ve been told we could stuck here for three months but Foreign Office have been useless – they just send links to their website.
“Hundreds of other Brits have been arriving here every hour – people with babies, old folk and families all queuing together at a time when we should be apart. Poland and Israel are sending planes to save their citizens so why can’t Britain?”
