Since Monday, New Caledonia has been the scene of nightly riots which led to the death of five people including two gendarmes, after the uprising of separatists against an electoral reform passed in Paris. But there are other victims, according to the local government. “People are already dying, not because of armed conflicts, but because they have no access to care, no access to food,” the minister said at a press conference in Nouméa. local civil service, Vaimu’a Muliava.
“There are people on dialysis, who should have been on dialysis, who have died,” he said. “Free the roads, let the doctors and nurses go and save people. Let people move around,” urged Vaimu’a Muliava, on the sixth day of this crisis. “One more day is one day too many,” he declared, believing that the New Caledonian population is “killing each other.”
3,200 people waiting for a flight
Despite the numerous stores and businesses burned or looted, the roads blocked, New Caledonia is not a victim of “shortage”, also assured this member of the local government, “but it will become so if we continue on this destructive path “. The Caledonian government called for “reason”. If the “social misery that is expressed” is understandable, said Vaimu’a Muliava to the youth, with the destruction of businesses and infrastructure, “you are punishing yourselves”.
In addition, around 3,200 people are stranded due to the suspension of commercial flights, unable to either leave the island or return, government spokesperson Gilbert Tyuienon said at a press conference in Nouméa. The resumption of traffic is at this stage scheduled for Tuesday by Aircalin, but this date is very uncertain, because it is subject to changes in security conditions. Air Calédonie, for its part, no longer offers flights “until further notice”.