New Caledonia: Desperate holidaymaker fears she and other Aussies still ‘trapped’ on small islands will be forgotten as rioting continues on Pacific neighbour
Australian holidaymakers fear they will be forgotten on small islands bordering disputed New Caledonia as airports and other forms of transport close across the region.
Rioting has continued on the French-controlled island as locals express their anger over electoral changes introduced last week.
The protests have resulted in the deaths of six people as cars and roadblocks were set on fire near the capital Noumea.
All domestic and international travel has been grounded during the unrest, forcing the Australian government to launch two repatriation flights so far.
While more than 180 Australians landed in Brisbane on Tuesday, other holidaymakers remain ‘trapped’ on the country’s smaller islands.
About 100 Australians remain stuck in New Caledonia after all travel to and from the country was halted as riots gripped the Pacific country (pictured)
A Sydney woman, Sarah Melrose, said she felt “unsafe” as she waited for news of the repatriation of officials, nine days after she was due to leave.
The 35-year-old arrived in Noumea on May 8, before the riots, and then made his way to the Isle of Pines, a 15-hectare island southeast of the main island.
Ms Melrose said her hotel, one of only a few on the island, is slowly running out of food nine days after the riots began.
She has been in contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) but has not heard anything about plans to bring them home.
“So far they have no update or plans to help us it seems,” she said Yahoo.
‘We are waiting for a call, but they have told us that the flights are only for people who are already in Noumea.
“We keep trying them every day, but I don’t trust them to understand that we cannot reach Noumea – and I fear they will forget those left on the islands.”
She estimated that around 10 Aussies are stuck on the Isle of Pines, while “many more” are on the various other smaller islands.
Foreign Minister and Senate Leader Penny Wong said Australia “stands ready to undertake further flights as soon as approval can be granted”.
“We have not received permission for additional flights,” she wrote on X.
“We know this is frustrating for the Australians left behind.
“We are working to secure flights tomorrow.”
One of those Aussies is Sarah Melrose from Sydney (pictured), who was supposed to leave the country nine days ago but is waiting for authorities to bring her back
She and two friends are stuck on one of the country’s smaller islands, the Isle of Pines (pictured), where she says her hotel is quickly running out of food.
It is not known when these flights will take place and where they will originate, but they can be announced at short notice.
DFAT warned all Aussies stuck in the country to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
The protests were sparked by the French government allowing French residents to vote in provincial elections, including New Caledonia.
Some New Caledonians and the indigenous Kanak people in the French territory saw the bill as a way to dilute the power of their vote in elections.
About 270 rioters have been arrested and a 12-hour curfew has been imposed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
France has sent more than a thousand security personnel and hundreds more to help quell the unrest.
The reopening of the international airport to commercial flights will be reassessed on Thursday.
Australia has urged people to reconsider traveling to New Caledonia.