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Hundreds of Australians are waiting to return home from New Caledonia after riots broke out in the French Pacific territory last week.
Tylah Carre, one of at least 300 Australians who have been stranded in the capital Noumea, arrived last Sunday for a two-day work trip before the situation escalated.
Many tourists are one step closer to touching down on home soil after the federal government announced this morning it had received the green light to send two evacuation flights.
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People in the area have been under a curfew and obtaining basic supplies has been a challenge.
Carre told 9News.com.au when the riots started to intensify, the situation was "pretty scary".
"The staff at the hotel we're in barricaded the windows in case they came into the tourist area," Carre said.
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"Locals ripped up some fencing to barricade the road towards the tourist area.
"We could hear all the gunfire and bombs going off. One night we left our hotel windows open and in the morning could smell the smoke from the bombs.
"Most of the hotel staff and shop owners left immediately to get home to their families, some stayed which was really helpful to us so we didn't feel isolated and alone."
Carre said many of his fellow Australians have been "going through different emotions" in the past week.
"Most have experienced the same, sounds of explosions and gunshots and the lack of food," he said.
"Many people here are elderly, some have kids and people needing medication from local pharmacies.
"Everyone is scared on varying degrees and just wants to go home."
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Dr Max and Dr Tiffany Winchester were on their first holiday without children since becoming parents when the conflict broke out.
The two told Today they can't wait to get back to Australia and reunite with their kids.
"This was our first romantic getaway as a couple without the kids and we thought it would be okay," Max said.
"This is obviously a struggle now for them and struggle for us being apart."
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Foreign minister Penny Wong said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said passengers are being prioritised based on need.
"We continue to work on further flights," Wong said.
Carre said he felt grateful to the government for their help with evacuations.
The rioting broke out last week in response to reforms passed in Paris that allow recent arrivals to the French overseas territory to vote in local provincial elections – a move some local leaders fear will weaken the say of the indigenous Kanak people.
The indigenous population accounts for around 40 per cent of New Caledonia's 270,000 total inhabitants, and many have called for independence from France.
Three referendums on the topic have been held since 2018, with the pro-independence vote falling short on each occasion – although it boycotted the most recent poll in 2021.
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A state of emergency in response to the unrest was declared on Wednesday, and France sent an extra 1000 security reinforcements to the territory to quell the violence.
While the worst of the rioting appears to be over, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal yesterday said "we are still a way off a return to normal".
Despite the current situation, Carre said Noumea is a great place with great people.
"I hope New Caledonia can resolve the current issues and get back to being a peaceful and beautiful place," he said.
Australians in New Caledonia who want to leave and haven't registered with DFAT should register online.
Australians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 (within Australia) or +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas).
