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More stranded Australians evacuated from New Caledonia amid deadly violence

As riots continue in New Caledonia, two Australia-assisted evacuation flights are expected to land in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon.

A group of people lined up getting on a plane

Australian Defence Force flights have repatriated Australians stranded New Caledonia. Source: Supplied / LAC Adam Abela / Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence

Two more Australian repatriation flights from New Caledonia are expected to land in Brisbane on Sunday as evacuations continue.

The background: New Caledonia has been in the grips of deadly riots for more than a week, resulting in at least seven deaths.

Some 300 Australians registered their interest to leave the French territory with the Department of Foreign Affairs after commercial flights were paused.

Key quote: "We continue to help Australians outside of Noumea to travel to the capital, and we are making plans for additional flights onwards to Australia for tomorrow (Sunday)." - Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Saturday.

What else to know: The unrest was sparked over controversial voting reforms that would allow French residents who have lived in the territory for 10 years to vote.

What happens next: French President Emmanuel Macron has delayed the voting reform in a bid to calm tensions. He has said he still plans to enact the law but would not do so by force and only when peace had returned.

Read more: Stranded in New Caledonia, this Australian is running out of vital medication

-Additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press


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By Jessica Bahr

Source: SBS News



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