Sick Swedes stranded in Cambodia
- Bong Burgundy
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Sick Swedes stranded in Cambodia
Several Swedes are stranded in Cambodia since the closure of the borders due to Covid-19. 32 year old Andreas Röhlander is one of those stranded indefinitely. "The worst part is the uncertainty, I am feeling very exhausted" he told Aftonbladet a Swedish tabloid newspaper.
The trip to Cambodia was supposed to be a magical holiday for Andreas Röhlander and his 30 year old Australian girlfriend Bec Gregory-Pahlow before they both moved to Sweden together. "We came here in February and were planning to travel around and had a booked flight to Stockholm on April 16", said Andreas.
The couple's plans were abruptly canceled when the pandemic broke out. Cambodia's government decided to close the country borders without forewarning in March. "It came from nowhere. We didn't have enough time to arrange tickets with the last flights out, they were fully booked immediately."
Since then the couple is stranded in the country. The Swedish State Department has told them that there are several flights and that they can leave when they want. A Google search shows several flights from Cambodia to Sweden, but it is not possible to buy them and there are many uncertainties according to Andreas.
"When I call the airlines they either tell me that there are no tickets available, that the flights are full or that they cannot guarantee entry into a connecting country to board a connecting flight. The situation is unpredictable: borders can open or close quickly and the entry rules are very uncertain."
They've run out of money and Andreas Röhlander and Bec Gregory-Pahlow have to borrow money from their families to get by.
Running out of medicine
Andreas said that a friend of his had taken the chance and bought a ticket. "He bought the ticket and flew to Frankfurt but they didn't let him in so he had to buy a ticket back to Cambodia for $3,400."
Andreas and his girlfriend say that they know several Swedes stranded in Kampot. Many of them are in a worse situation than Andreas and Bec. Some of them are very ill and need to return to Sweden to get their medicine. "One of them has cancer, another one has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and another one is a diabetic. They are running out of medicine and they are relying on family to send it to them", Andreas said.
Andreas and Bec have also fallen sick. Bec has a broken leg from a traffic accident and Andreas is recovering from the chikungunya virus. He has had 40 degree fever, pain in his joints and in his throat. "I am starting to get better and probably only have a 38 degree fever now, but I can't eat anything except yoghurt" he said.
The couple said that food, housing and unexpected hospital bills is expensive for them. Their travel insurance has expired because they did not expect to stay so long.
Now they are borrowing money from their families. The couple has plane tickets to return home in October but it's difficult to know if they can fly because several previous bookings have been rescheduled or canceled. Andreas wants the State Department to arrange repatriation flights that the stranded Swedes could buy tickets for to return home.
"We need to go home soon for financial reasons, our families can't help us for ever. The worst part is the uncertainty, that we don't know when and how we are going to be able to go home. We miss our families and the social safety nets", he said.
Tens of thousands of Swedes around the wrold are stranded because of Covid-19. The State Department has helped in those cases where it has been deemed impossible for people to return on their own, for example from Iran, Peru and Vietnam.
The Swedish State Department said that they will issue a press release about the stranded Swedes shortly.
The trip to Cambodia was supposed to be a magical holiday for Andreas Röhlander and his 30 year old Australian girlfriend Bec Gregory-Pahlow before they both moved to Sweden together. "We came here in February and were planning to travel around and had a booked flight to Stockholm on April 16", said Andreas.
The couple's plans were abruptly canceled when the pandemic broke out. Cambodia's government decided to close the country borders without forewarning in March. "It came from nowhere. We didn't have enough time to arrange tickets with the last flights out, they were fully booked immediately."
Since then the couple is stranded in the country. The Swedish State Department has told them that there are several flights and that they can leave when they want. A Google search shows several flights from Cambodia to Sweden, but it is not possible to buy them and there are many uncertainties according to Andreas.
"When I call the airlines they either tell me that there are no tickets available, that the flights are full or that they cannot guarantee entry into a connecting country to board a connecting flight. The situation is unpredictable: borders can open or close quickly and the entry rules are very uncertain."
They've run out of money and Andreas Röhlander and Bec Gregory-Pahlow have to borrow money from their families to get by.
Running out of medicine
Andreas said that a friend of his had taken the chance and bought a ticket. "He bought the ticket and flew to Frankfurt but they didn't let him in so he had to buy a ticket back to Cambodia for $3,400."
Andreas and his girlfriend say that they know several Swedes stranded in Kampot. Many of them are in a worse situation than Andreas and Bec. Some of them are very ill and need to return to Sweden to get their medicine. "One of them has cancer, another one has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and another one is a diabetic. They are running out of medicine and they are relying on family to send it to them", Andreas said.
Andreas and Bec have also fallen sick. Bec has a broken leg from a traffic accident and Andreas is recovering from the chikungunya virus. He has had 40 degree fever, pain in his joints and in his throat. "I am starting to get better and probably only have a 38 degree fever now, but I can't eat anything except yoghurt" he said.
The couple said that food, housing and unexpected hospital bills is expensive for them. Their travel insurance has expired because they did not expect to stay so long.
Now they are borrowing money from their families. The couple has plane tickets to return home in October but it's difficult to know if they can fly because several previous bookings have been rescheduled or canceled. Andreas wants the State Department to arrange repatriation flights that the stranded Swedes could buy tickets for to return home.
"We need to go home soon for financial reasons, our families can't help us for ever. The worst part is the uncertainty, that we don't know when and how we are going to be able to go home. We miss our families and the social safety nets", he said.
Tens of thousands of Swedes around the wrold are stranded because of Covid-19. The State Department has helped in those cases where it has been deemed impossible for people to return on their own, for example from Iran, Peru and Vietnam.
The Swedish State Department said that they will issue a press release about the stranded Swedes shortly.
Bringing the news. You stay classy, nas, Cambodia.
A beggar isn't complete without a crowdfunding link, amateurs.
Sure it is a shitty situation but following the news and planning for an emergency could most likely have avoided this. An embassy is generally useless. Better connect with other travelers, immigration and airline news resources.
Sure it is a shitty situation but following the news and planning for an emergency could most likely have avoided this. An embassy is generally useless. Better connect with other travelers, immigration and airline news resources.
Why do they need to enter Frankfurt if they are transiting? Can’t they renew their travel insurance? Are they joking about no diabetes medicine in Cambodia?
It’s a little difficult to take people serious when they say they are stranded in Kampot. There is not even an international airport in Kampot. It’s a party town with only junkies and drugs!
It’s a little difficult to take people serious when they say they are stranded in Kampot. There is not even an international airport in Kampot. It’s a party town with only junkies and drugs!
Doesn't look that difficult to me: PNH -(KE)- ICN -(KE)- AMS -(KL)- ARN
No Covid-19 test needed, entering Sweden no problem, transit in ICN/AMS sterile with luggage check-through, because KE/KL are both Skyteam. Will cost quite a lot of money though, KE is expensive.
KE: PNH - ICN - AMS less than USD 1000 for a one way, goes 3-4 times a week.
KL: AMS - ARN, around USD 300 for a one way. Every day, several times a day.
2 hours transit time at AMS is more than sufficient.
Go home, Swedes, enjoy your home quarantine.......
No Covid-19 test needed, entering Sweden no problem, transit in ICN/AMS sterile with luggage check-through, because KE/KL are both Skyteam. Will cost quite a lot of money though, KE is expensive.
KE: PNH - ICN - AMS less than USD 1000 for a one way, goes 3-4 times a week.
KL: AMS - ARN, around USD 300 for a one way. Every day, several times a day.
2 hours transit time at AMS is more than sufficient.
Go home, Swedes, enjoy your home quarantine.......
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Last edited by v12 on Thu Aug 13, 2020 3:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Didn't even bother to read the main article but this is bollocks.
There is and always has been a way out to Europe.
If at their age they don't have friends or family who can lend them a couple of grand they are either assholes or scammers.
Or cunts of course.
There is and always has been a way out to Europe.
If at their age they don't have friends or family who can lend them a couple of grand they are either assholes or scammers.
Or cunts of course.
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Yeah, typical the people who blame others for their own incompetence.
They could easily enter Denmark and go from there to Sweden.
Sweden hasnt had its second wave yet.
The world has to be viewed against the risk of getting the virus19 in each country.
Would a punter go to the philippines right now or save his hard earned dosh for the delights of st172.
The world has to be viewed against the risk of getting the virus19 in each country.
Would a punter go to the philippines right now or save his hard earned dosh for the delights of st172.
- raendi
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There have been EU repatriation flights already to France and Switzerland, why they didn't jump on those at time...Andreas wants the State Department to arrange repatriation flights that the stranded Swedes could buy tickets for to return home.
Pardon my engrish, thanks you.
Somebody here wrote that Kampot is only a party town with junkies and drugs. Did you ever go to Kampot or you might have been so fucking drugged by arrival that you do not remember anything else than your face i in the toilet mirror when you puked. Next time come sober. And another one: "If at their age they don't have friends or family who can lend them a couple of grand they are either assholes or scammers." You do not know much about life, do you? Traveling probably with the silver spoon and mami's emergency phone number in pocket.
No need for Repatriation flights, there are sufficient flights Cambodia -> Europe, with suitable transit. Europe is open for incoming home-landers.
Kampot is the city of unwashed Karen’s Korner meth heads and dirty hippies at flee markets selling tarot readings and throat singing gurgling sounds.
If anyone is traveling with mama’s silver spoon and emergency phone it is the stranded Swedes that said they miss their nanny state safety net don’t you think?
If anyone is traveling with mama’s silver spoon and emergency phone it is the stranded Swedes that said they miss their nanny state safety net don’t you think?
- Lucky Lucan
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Interesting comment from Facebook:
Some aspects of their claims don't make sense. The Government of Cambodia never closed its borders to people wishing to leave. They have always been free to leave. It is true that many transit points outside of Cambodia closed to foreigners, but some remained open for transit and have always been available to departing foreigners.
The story about their friend being sent back to Cambodia from Frankfurt sounds very difficult to believe. If the friend was an EU citizen, they wouldn't have been deported to Cambodia. That shit doesn't happen. They might have been refused entry to Germany, but they could have remained in the transit area of Frankfurt International Airport and bought a ticket to Stockholm, because Sweden never closed its borders to anybody.
I'm sensing a couple who didn't leave when they could have; they took a gamble and now they're stuck with no money and want hand outs.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
I moved to Kampot when the chinese invaded Sihanoukville and my one year lease was thrown on the 20 meter garbage pile in front of my building..
Kampot was a nice quiet town where I lived by the Provincial Police Station...too quiet..
I was happy when my landlord told my wife he could get $200us more a month for my house. I told him if he gave me back my deposit I would leave after 11 months ..he was happy...I was happy.
Been lovin life in Siem Reap with modern markets...beautiful apartment with a pool.
I hated Kampot but it was not due to meth..
Kep was fun but it had that feeling the chinese were oozing down the coast..
I hated the lack of reasonable housing.
Bored the fuck out of me..
I have friends there who love it and are not druggies or pieces of shit.
Decent blokes on pensions who are better off there than back in Australia.
I love Siem Reap...
Just got my retirement visa extension without having to prove income.
My travel dude helped my landlord who messed up my registration on her app..
Being stranded sucks..
But, their story seems like bullshit to me..
My neighbor just left for Sweden in May. He had to wait a few months..
I feel for my tuk tuk drivers and locals ...
Help them out ..
Of course I voted for Trump and these 2 would not want my aid should I offer it to them
Kampot was a nice quiet town where I lived by the Provincial Police Station...too quiet..
I was happy when my landlord told my wife he could get $200us more a month for my house. I told him if he gave me back my deposit I would leave after 11 months ..he was happy...I was happy.
Been lovin life in Siem Reap with modern markets...beautiful apartment with a pool.
I hated Kampot but it was not due to meth..
Kep was fun but it had that feeling the chinese were oozing down the coast..
I hated the lack of reasonable housing.
Bored the fuck out of me..
I have friends there who love it and are not druggies or pieces of shit.
Decent blokes on pensions who are better off there than back in Australia.
I love Siem Reap...
Just got my retirement visa extension without having to prove income.
My travel dude helped my landlord who messed up my registration on her app..
Being stranded sucks..
But, their story seems like bullshit to me..
My neighbor just left for Sweden in May. He had to wait a few months..
I feel for my tuk tuk drivers and locals ...
Help them out ..
Of course I voted for Trump and these 2 would not want my aid should I offer it to them
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