Dozens of Australian evacuees have expressed relief after being brought home from the French territory of New Caledonia, where deadly unrest has erupted.
Dozens of Australian evacuees have expressed relief after being brought home from the French territory of New Caledonia, where deadly unrest has erupted.
The evacuees, who arrived in Sydney on Saturday night, were among more than 100 Australians who were forced to flee the territory after violence erupted last week.
The unrest began after the results of a referendum on independence were announced, with the majority of voters opting to remain part of France.
The violence has left three people dead and dozens injured, and has prompted the Australian and New Zealand governments to evacuate their citizens.
"It was a very scary experience," said one evacuee, who asked not to be named. "We were just sitting at home when we heard gunshots and saw people running in the streets."
"We didn't know what was happening, so we just grabbed our passports and ran," she said.
The evacuees were taken to a temporary shelter in the Australian city of Brisbane, where they were given food, water, and medical attention.
"We are very grateful to the Australian government for getting us out of there," said another evacuee. "We don't know what we would have done without them."
The Australian government has said it is committed to assisting its citizens in New Caledonia, and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
"The safety of Australians is our top priority," said Foreign Minister Marise Payne. "We will continue to work with the French government to ensure the safety of our citizens."
The New Zealand government has also evacuated its citizens from New Caledonia, and has said it is monitoring the situation closely.
"We are deeply concerned about the violence in New Caledonia," said Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. "We call on all parties to exercise restraint and to work towards a peaceful resolution."
The unrest in New Caledonia has been condemned by the international community, with the United Nations calling for an end to the violence.
"We urge all parties to refrain from violence and to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
