CNN
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When Maxwell Winchester and his wife arrived on the South Pacific island of New Caledonia about two weeks ago, they were excited about their first child-free vacation as parents.
But deadly riots across France sparked by election changes by the central government have left the Australian couple stranded on what was meant to be a romantic getaway, far from their children in their home state of Victoria.
“We’re sheltering in place because it’s too dangerous to get out. There have been barricades, riots … stores have been looted and burned. There’s basically nothing left in the suburbs near us,” he told CNN on Thursday.
The hotels they are staying in are running out of food and medicine, and they don’t know when help will arrive. The evacuation of foreign nationals was suspended on Thursday as French President Emmanuel Macron arrived for talks.
“Some people have run out of medicine, food is scarce and other stranded Australians are having to scrounge for coconuts to eat,” he said.
01:12 – Source: CNN
French President Macron heads to New Caledonia after deadly riots
Now, with commercial flights grounded and the main international airport closed, the couple and other foreigners stranded on the island are desperately trying to find a way home.
“Our embassy went missing on the first day, and it wasn’t until last night that we got our first welfare call,” he said. “We are frustrated by all this… What I hope is that our government evacuates us quickly.”
Australia and New Zealand began sending government planes to evacuate their citizens from Tuesday, and the Australian embassy in New Caledonia said on Facebook that 108 Australians and other tourists were being flown from the island to Brisbane on two flights on Tuesday. It was announced that the vehicle had been transported safely.
“We continue to work with our partners to help all Australians who wish to leave the country do so,” the department said in a post on Wednesday.
But Winchester said he and other tourists have no idea when it will be their turn. The local government estimates there are about 3,200 people waiting to enter or leave the island.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said on its website that it was “in direct contact with Australians registered in New Caledonia about exit options from New Caledonia” and instructed Australians on the island to register their details on the department’s online portal.
Retrieved from CNN
In New Caledonia, people are queuing up at shops for supplies as a nearby hypermarket is set on fire and looted during riots in the French territory.
Located about 930 miles (about 1,500 kilometers) northeast of Brisbane, New Caledonia has long been a popular destination for both Australians and New Zealanders seeking Pacific sun and beaches.
However, it is also a vestige of the French colonial era. On the other side of the world, many indigenous peoples live in deep poverty and have long been dissatisfied with Parisian rule.
The protests, the worst since the 1980s, were sparked by anger among the indigenous Kanak people over constitutional amendments approved by France that would change eligibility for elections, which local leaders say They are concerned that their votes will be diluted.
The riots have left at least six people dead, cars burned, shops looted and roads barricaded, limiting access to medicines and food.
The situation worsened, forcing President Macron to fly some 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles) and land on the island amid anger from indigenous community leaders, business owners and stranded tourists. Ta.
Macron arrived in New Caledonia on Thursday and told reporters that a “return to peace” was his top priority, but that French security forces would remain in the region “for as long as necessary, even during the Olympics.”
He said 3,000 French security forces had already been deployed, with many still arriving on Thursday, adding that he believed the state of emergency “should not be extended” as long as all political forces on the island “unequivocally demand the lifting of the obstacles.”
President Macron will set up a “mission” in New Caledonia as part of his visit, government spokeswoman Prisca Thévenot said at a press conference earlier this week. The visit comes as France prepares for the Paris Olympics, which will be held from July 26th to August 11th.
But Macron’s arrival was of little consolation to the Winchesters, who are staying at a resort outside the city centre. The couple spoke of the anxiety and despair felt by guests and staff at the hotel. The resort has closed off all roads leading to the hotel, with only one entrance guarded 24 hours a day, Winchester said.
And there is growing frustration among stranded tourists over what they say is a lack of support and clear guidance from the government.
Winchester said the Australian government only notifies its citizens of evacuation plans 30 minutes before flights “for safety reasons,” meaning “everyone is on edge all the time, and afraid to leave their hotel rooms if they get a phone call saying there’s an emergency” (to get on a plane).
When approached by CNN for comment, DFAT pointed to a statement published online by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Wednesday.
“The Australian Government is ready to support more tourists from New Caledonia and we have planes ready to fly. Permission has not been granted for any additional flights. I know this is frustrating for remaining Australians,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “We are working to secure flights for tomorrow.”
Theo Looby/AFP/Getty Images
Burnt-out buildings in an industrial area in Nouméa, New Caledonia, May 20, 2024.
With international airports closed, evacuation planes can only depart from domestic airports near the city centre. People staying far away, like Winchester and other guests at the resort, have little access to domestic airports because of road closures and shootings on major highways.
“My wife and I don’t have a car, so we have no way to get into the city unless we take a flight,” he said. “We don’t know if they’re going to come and evacuate us from where we are. But it’s very dangerous to drive into the city at this time.”
New Zealanders living on the island are in a similar predicament, with the government telling them to drive into the city, leave their car at a hotel, and be picked up there to evacuate. That’s what it means.
“Macron’s visit could make the situation even worse,” he said. “The French government is not handling this well. If (Macron) says something wrong and returns to France, it could all start again. That’s our concern.”
Meanwhile, stranded foreigners continue to struggle to survive while racking up huge bills, with Winchester explaining that tourists are spending tens of thousands of dollars on food, accommodation and supplies.
The couple are now travelling with several other New Zealanders into the city, hoping to find a flight to join them, and hoping for the safety of many on the perilous drive.
“Our government’s position now is that the French military will drive us out and we have no confidence in the French government’s ability to keep us safe,” he said.
