Australian tourists fear they will be forgotten on the small islands adjacent to besieged New Caledonia as airports and other forms of transport close across the territory.
Unrest has continued on the French-controlled island as locals express anger over electoral changes approved last week.
The protests have caused the death of six people and cars and barricades have been set on fire around the capital, Noumea.
All domestic and international travel was suspended 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 tourists on the country’s smaller islands remain “stuck”.
About 100 Australians remain stuck in New Caledonia after all travel to or from the country was suspended due to unrest sweeping the Pacific nation (pictured).
Sarah Melrose, a Sydney woman, said she feels “unsafe” as she waits for news from authorities about her repatriation, nine days after she was supposed to leave.
The 35-year-old woman arrived in Noumea on May 8, before the riots, and then headed to the Isle of Pines, a 15-hectare island southeast of the main island.
Melrose said his hotel, one of the few on the island, is slowly running out of food nine days after the riots began.
He has been in contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) but has not yet heard of any plans to bring them home.
“It seems like so far they don’t have any updates or plans to help us,” he said. yahoo.
‘We are waiting for them to call us but they have told us that the flights are only for people who are already in Noumea.
“We keep trying every day, but I’m not sure they understand that we can’t get to Noumea, and I’m afraid they will forget about those left on the islands.”
She estimated around 10 Australians are trapped on the Isle of Pines, while “many more” are on other smaller islands.
Foreign Minister and Senate leader Penny Wong said Australia “stands ready to conduct further flights as soon as approvals can be obtained”.
“We have not been given authorization for additional flights,” he wrote in X.
‘We know this is frustrating for Australians who remain.
“We are working to guarantee flights tomorrow.”
One of those Australians is Sydney woman Sarah Melrose (pictured) who was due 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 smallest islands, the Isle of Pines (pictured), where she says their hotel is quickly running out of food.
It is unknown when these flights will be and where they will come from, however they may be announced at short notice.
DFAT warned all Australians stuck in the country to be prepared 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.
Several residents of New Caledonia and the indigenous Kanak people of the French territory saw the bill as a way to dilute the power of their vote in elections.
Some 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 1,000 security personnel and hundreds more will join in to help quell the unrest.
The reopening of the international airport to commercial flights will be re-evaluated on Thursday.
Australia has urged people to reconsider travel to New Caledonia.
