New Caledonia State of Emergency and Evacuation Plans
On May 15, New Caledonia was placed under a state of emergency for 12 days due to deadly riots following electoral changes mandated by the French government. The situation has prompted evacuation efforts by Australia and New Zealand.
Australia’s Evacuation Efforts
- Australia announced plans to dispatch government planes to evacuate their nationals from New Caledonia.
- Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that two flights would bring back around 300 nationals.
- Clearance was obtained for Australian Government-assisted departure flights.
New Zealand’s Response
New Zealand also initiated plans to evacuate its citizens from the crisis-hit region.
- Foreign Minister Winston Peters stated that a government plane would depart for Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia, within the next hour.
French President’s Emergency Meetings and Security Measures
French President Emmanuel Macron held a series of emergency meetings to address the escalating situation in New Caledonia.
Security Measures and Restoring Order
- France deployed reinforcements to assist local forces in restoring order amidst the unrest.
- French forces successfully regained control of the main road to La Tontouta International Airport, which has been closed since May 14.
The airport will remain closed until May 23, despite requests from Australia and New Zealand for evacuation purposes.
Casualties and Escalating Violence
The conflict has tragically resulted in casualties, including the deaths of two gendarmes and at least three Indigenous Kanaks, underscoring the severity of the situation in the French territory.