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This story was originally published in RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
New Zealanders who stayed in India are asking for additional repatriation flights to evacuate them, after the government did not have enough capacity to return everyone who wanted to go home.
More than 700 citizens and permanent residents returned on all three flights from New Delhi and Mumbai, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said, the last of which returned on Thursday.
However, almost double that number, 1,360 people, expressed interest in the flights. Some people changed their minds, and others were unable to travel for a variety of reasons. The rest were left behind and now have no clear path home.
“Due to the high demand for the flight, we have unfortunately not been able to offer seats to all those who would have been eligible to travel to New Zealand,” an MFAT email told registered New Zealanders regarding the third flight from New Delhi.
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“Until commercial flights begin or charter flights from other countries become available to New Zealanders, we continue to encourage New Zealanders to remain safe where they are.”
Navjot Matharu’s mother, 52, is in New Delhi. She signed up for the flights and was willing to pay but didn’t get a ticket, and now she’s stuck. She is a permanent resident, unable to return to her full-time job or home.
Matharu said it had been a stressful situation, fearing that commercial flights would not be available for months.
“[The government] I didn’t say there are no plans [for future flights], but they just said ‘we are investigating it’. I think it’s a good way to say ‘no more flights,’ “he said.
AP
New Zealand officials review a list of passengers when stranded Kiwis arrive to board a repatriation flight in New Delhi.
He said he understood that flights were complex to organize.
“I’m already grateful that they’ve done so much. They still have 700 people, which is a huge number. But now half of them say ‘well, you took those people out, why can’t you get us out? Out?’
“They have already done three flights, so they have the process. People are willing to pay for it, so I don’t see why it is so difficult to take other flights and get the rest of the people out as well,” he said.
Other governments, such as Australia, have planned some flights that New Zealanders can request. Thirty-four New Zealanders accepted such offers from Calcutta and Chennai.
“[If it] there were 20 or 30 people [left in India] then ok, we will have to hold on until things get better. But unfortunately, what I have seen is that a lot of people are still there and are also willing to pay for the flights, “Matharu said.
“New Zealanders wishing to return home must explore all business options”
MFAT has worked with other countries to assist New Zealanders on flights to travel centers, where commercial flights are available.
“So far, the New Zealand government has helped more than 1,570 New Zealanders and their families access private or government repatriation flights from around the world,” said an MFAT spokesperson.
“We have facilitated a series of flights that include from Brazil, Chile, Peru, India and other countries in South and Southeast Asia. We are also looking for options to help New Zealanders in South Africa.”
He said that not all seats on flights were full, both for purposes of social distancing and for not showing up on the day.
“This has been an extremely complex operation and it has taken time to put everything in its place.
“Not all available seats were filled for these flights as some were unable to fly during the day due to health reasons or because they changed their minds. It was not possible for us at the last minute to fill all available seats. with other interested people.
“New Zealand citizens and their families within a reasonable distance from New Delhi or Mumbai were offered the opportunity to join one of the three repatriation flights departing from these centers. Unfortunately, we were unable to provide seats to all those who would be eligible to travel to New Zealand
“We are aware that there are still New Zealand citizens in India, including South India. We will continue to provide consular assistance to New Zealand citizens in India. This includes sharing advice on repatriation flights from other countries such as 20 New Zealanders in Chennai and 14 in Kolkata whom we have already helped access Australia-chartered charter flights.
“We remain committed to assisting New Zealanders whenever possible, but it is important to know that government chartered flights are complex, time consuming, and costly to organize. New Zealanders wishing to return home should explore all business options.” .
This story was originally published in RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
