Covid 19 coronavirus: Kiwis stuck in Philippines to get flight home

Name: Focus: Winston Peters says mercy flights may be need for Kiwis trapped abroad
Uploaded: 2020-03-19T14:59:47+13:00
Duration: 73 s
Description: Focus: Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says mercy flights may be required to bring home New Zealanders trapped overseas because of coronavirus. Video / Mark Mitchell

By Amelia Wade

Political reporter·NZ Herald·

15 Apr, 2020 09:13 PM3 mins to read

Focus: Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says mercy flights may be required to bring home New Zealanders trapped overseas because of coronavirus. Video / Mark Mitchell

Kiwis stuck in the Philippines where the president has threatened to shoot anyone breaking lockdown rules are being organised a flight home this weekend.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Winston Peters said New Zealanders there were experiencing "challenging circumstances" under the quarantine restrictions and were having trouble getting out with no domestic travel options.

The Government was working with Philippine Airlines and international airlines to bring Kiwis and their family members home, he said.

There are 391 people registered on SafeTravel as being in the Philippines.

The flight is set to depart Manila on Sunday, April 19, and people wanting to catch it need to register with the New Zealand Embassy

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Travel continues to search for solutions for New Zealanders stranded offshore in an extremely complex global environment.

"However, Government-assisted flights will only be explored in exceptional circumstances when all other options have been exhausted," Peters said.

"We strongly advise that New Zealanders overseas should be seeking to shelter safely where they are or return home by commercial means where possible."

The Philippines, which has a population of 57 million on its main island, has one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks in Southeast Asia with 5453 cases and 349 deaths.

An "enhanced community quarantine" was declared in mid-March and was extended until the end of April.

Late last month after a protest in a Manila slum over lack of supplies, President Rodrigo Duterte warned violators of the strict lockdown they could be shot for causing trouble.

"My orders to the police and military ... if there is trouble and there's an occasion that they fight back and your lives are in danger, shoot them dead.

"Is that understood? Dead. Instead of causing trouble, I will bury you."

Transport options for Kiwis in other parts of the Philippines who want to catch the flight from Manila are being considered.

Any New Zealanders in the Philippines wishing to register interest in the flight should email the New Zealand Embassy in Manila: NZEMManila@mfat.govt.nz

The Government has previously announced it was working on getting flights for the "large number" of Kiwis in India as a ban on international flights left many stranded.