Melbourne-based Gurminder Singh’s wife and one-year-old son are stuck in Saharanpur in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh – a state grappling with the fourth-highest rate of active coronavirus cases in India.
Highlights:
- Australia to resume repatriation flights from India, focus to bring vulnerable citizens and permanent residents
- India records 414,188 new COVID-19 cases and 3,914 deaths in past 24 hours
- Indian-Australians demand ramped-up repatriation efforts to allow mass return of citizens and residents
'Living in constant fear'
The 34-year-old IT worker says he lives in constant fear as cases continue to rise and loved ones succumb to the deadly second wave of COVID-19 in India, which is not sparing even children.
“I can’t sleep because I’m perpetually anxious and concerned about the wellbeing of my family. While today’s announcement is a step in the right direction, it leaves many —who are not in the vulnerable group – without any insulation from danger,” he says.
Addressing the media after National Cabinet met today, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the number of repatriation flights from India will be increased from three to six this month, each ferrying roughly 150 people.
Scott Morrison has declined to commit to a start date for when repatriation flights will resume. Source: AAP
“Those charter flights will, of course, be focused on bringing those Australian citizens, residents and families who have been registered with our High Commission and consular offices within India. And it will also be targeted on those 900 most vulnerable of the group,” he said.
He said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will review registrations of Australians stuck in India who want to come home.
Mr Morrison added that states, including Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, are open to taking in more flights from COVID-ravaged India, which has recorded 414,188 new cases of the virus in the past 24 hours and another 3,914 fatalities.
Mr Singh, who is desperate to reunite with his family, says six flights are disproportionate to the magnitude of the public health crisis unfolding in India.
Gurminder Singh (L); Gurminder's wife, Pavneet Kaur and son (R). Source: Supplied by Mr Singh
“The government needs to ramp up its repatriation efforts to ensure more people can return in a short span. Six flights with 150 people means it would take months for stranded Aussies to return home, which is quite unfair given the worsening situation in India,” he adds.
The Indian-Australian community expressed its anger at the federal government’s decision to criminalise travellers returning from India. The threats of jail time and fines for such travellers was called as “outlandish and discriminatory.”
Defending the ban, the government maintains that it is unlikely that anyone would be charged or fined under this ban.
“The biosecurity order is doing its job. It is doing what we intended it to do. It will run for the term we intended for it to run, and then that will be replaced by arrangements made beyond that point to ensure we can prevent the third wave,” Mr Morrison said today.
Queensland-based Neha Sandhu, who has been facilitating the return of stranded Australians in India since April 2020, says the government needs to ramp up their quarantine arrangements to allow for the repatriation of Australians on a large scale.
NSW-based Neha Sandhu has been providing emotional support to families stranded in India since April 2020. Source: Supplied by Ms Sandhu
“The repatriation process has already been prolonged. The government had promised to bring back all stranded Aussies home by Christmas last year. Now is the time to escalate the repatriation process and to strengthen the quarantine system,” she says.
The 47-year-old, who is holding regular consultations with families separated by COVID-19, says the government needs to revise its quarantine arrangements.
“People in India are desperate and struggling at this critical time. The government must send immediate help and flights to fly back everyone, not just those classified as vulnerable,” she says.
“The quarantine protocols should be rewritten and dedicated staff and teams should be on quarantine sites on 15-day rotation basis so that the risk of infection is minimised. We need more facilities like Howard Springs. We need fast action instead of escapism,” Ms Sandhu adds.
Deb Tellis, who has recently returned to Australia after being stuck in India for almost a year, says while the government’s decision to fly back vulnerable citizens is a step in the right direction, and that they need to extend more assistance than simply announcing flights.
Deb Tellis Source: Supplied by Ms Tellis
“DFAT has said that they are going offer the flights to the 900 vulnerable people so they can purchase their tickets. Now if they are vulnerable, the government should be giving them their tickets for the next available flights rather than leaving them to fight for those limited tickets, which is just unacceptable in their situation,” she says.
Ms Tellis has volunteered her services to assist families in India. She says the Australian government should have swung into action when India banned its commercial flights at the onset of the pandemic last year.
“If they had done that, this situation would have never arisen,” she adds.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 meters away from others. Find out what restrictions are in place for your state or territory.
Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store.
SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments.
