They depict “war scenes”. Even worse, “we thought we would die there”. To hear them say, Sarah Costanzo and Valentina Ienco went through hell in the middle of the Moroccan desert.
The Varoises have just returned from the “Trek Rose Trip”. A solidarity orienteering race, organized by the travel agency Désertours, which took place from October 27 to 30, 2023 south of Errachidia.
Both fell violently ill, contaminated by a bacteria (still unknown), on the third day of their adventure. The symptoms quickly spread in the camp bringing together more than 800 participants. In total, around 200 people showed the same symptoms of (very) acute gastroenteritis.
After being among the most worrying cases, Sarah Costanzo and Valentina Ienco returned to Le Muy, Saturday November 4 in the early morning, repatriated by their loved ones. For fear of contaminating their families, they isolated themselves and recounted their “nightmare”.
Two doctors and 36 toilets for 800 participants
According to their testimony, the hygienic conditions were insufficient. And the paths, the mattresses and even the toilets were soiled.Photo DR.
“So on the third day, I started to feel sore and muddy from the first kilometer”, relates Sarah Costanzo, who overcame breast cancer. The forty-year-old is hopeful that it will pass and decides to continue the race.
To the point of discomfort. “I was very cold even though it was 40 degrees. We called a doctor. But they made us understand that he wouldn’t come… I wasn’t the only one who was sick. Then, they weren’t only two!”
The Muyoises, who are teaming up with a third friend and have been training for more than a year, set off as best they might and finally completed the 19 kilometers. “We covered them in nine hours. Arriving at the camp, I thought I would be saved, taken care of.” Without knowing that the real ordeal begins there.
“My diarrhea and vomiting became more severe. In front of the toilets (there were only 36 for 800 people), there were many of us waiting. The tents had been pushed together and some girls were sleeping on their mattresses, in the open air, in due to lack of space. Medical equipment was lacking. Dehydrated, I was only allowed one infusion.”
During the night, Valentina Ienco, 39, experienced the same symptoms. She goes to the bathroom and… “Sarah found me passed out”. We give him an anti-emetic and a painkiller. Then, she waits in a tent, crowded with around twenty other runners. “I was finally transferred to the most serious cases, with Sarah. And I was given an infusion too”. Just once.
Dirty mattresses, toilets and walkways
The day following a terrible night, they were told that they would soon be transferred to hospital. Finally! “It was abominable to stay here, inhumane. There was vomit and excrement everywhere. The mattresses were dirty, the toilets and the aisles too. We had nothing to change into. We were given diapers”explains Sarah Costanzo, exhausted and still in shock.
His condition is further deteriorating. Three hours later, two ambulances came to pick them up. The friends are taken to a private clinic in Errachidia, located two hours’ drive away. They stayed there for four days, before their repatriation by plane organized by the Mutuaide mutual fund.
“We were placed in the maternity ward. Gynecologists and midwives took care of us.” Valentina Ienco, mother of two children, still can’t believe it. “A doctor told us there were 48 of us there!”
They take more blood tests, are infused, placed on antibiotics and their condition improves quickly.
“Kitchens one meter from an open septic tank”
According to Sarah Costanzo and Valentina Ienco, the contents of the toilets were dumped into an open septic tank… just one meter from the kitchens where their evening meal was prepared.Photo Florian Escoffier.
The results of the analyzes come quickly: “We were negative for Shigella bacteria (or Escherichia coli).”
Sarah Costanzo frowns. “I don’t see how it’s possible. Especially since a doctor told Valentina that she had it! I suspect Désertours of doing everything to cover up the affair.”
Because this epidemic would not be the first. The people of Var have received hundreds of testimonials since the creation of the “Collectif Trek Rose Trip 2023 & Trophée Roses Des Sables Epidémie”. “We are going to transform it into an association and file a complaint. It has to stop. Girls tell us that they experienced the same thing in 2021 and 2022, in the same place.”
They wonder why. And carry out their investigation. “I think it’s linked to the kitchens. They were placed a meter from the open septic tank. It was full of flies therespecifies Sarah Costanzo. In the evening, we served ourselves at a buffet. We all had the same spoon…”
The French embassy in Morocco indicated to France Inter that an investigation and analyzes are underway. Désertours (which also organizes the 4L Trophy and the “Rose des sables” rally) assures, for its part, “to cooperate fully to determine the nature, the origin of the epidemic as well as the way in which it spread”.
Questions regarding the amount of donations donated
The epidemic would not be the only question mark for the Trek Rose Trip 2023. The runners are also wondering regarding the amount of donations donated to the Ruban rose, Jeune et rose, Enfants du desert and Surfrider foundation associations.
“We paid, on average, 2,000 euros per person for the walking race (excluding plane tickets). Those who do it by car, it’s 3,000 euros. If we do the calculations, this represents a total of approximately 1.4 million euros collected. We knew that only part was donated. Except that Désertours would have only given 20,000 euros to the associations. We are disappointed. We participated in this trek to make a good action. We have all been affected by cancer. Some are even still in remission”regret Sarah Costanzo and Valentina Ienco.
In total, Valentina Ienco and Sarah Costanzo were only allowed one infusion, due to dehydration. Medical equipment was lacking.Photo DR.
