Aussie boy ‘left behind’ in Vanuatu
An Australian boy with cerebral palsy has been “left behind” in Vanuatu because Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) planes running evacuations are not set up to take wheelchairs, the boy’s father says.
Liam Lynch’s 14-year-old son, Sean, was in Vanuatu with his mother and grandmother when the deadly, freak 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck the South Pacific archipelago earlier this week.
“He had to be carried by his mother and his 78-year-old grandmother out of the house when it happened,” the Queensland man told Nine.
“The floor was covered in everything you can imagine, glass, crockery.”
Mr Lynch, who is in Australia, has been trying to get his family home in time for Christmas.
The earthquake ravaged Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, killing at least 14 people and forcing the closure of the country’s international airport.
A state of emergency has been declared, with a curfew imposed for the hardest hit areas.
“It’s not the place for a young boy with disabilities, he should be back home,” Mr Lynch said.
The airport had been reopened as of Sunday morning, but commercial options remain limited.
At least 568 Australians have been repatriated on RAAF planes ferrying Australian crisis crews into the disaster zones.
“They’ve completely neglected vulnerable people and specifically in the case of my 14-year-old-boy with a disability, he has been left behind,” Mr Lynch said.
“I don’t know when he’s going to come home.”
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A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesperson told NewsWire consular assistance was getting offered to all Australians and permanent residents in Vanuatu.
“These aircrafts are configured primarily for humanitarian delivery and are not appropriate to carry certain vulnerable, injured or elderly passengers,” they said.
“Allocation of seating on ADF (Australian Defence Force) flights has also taken into account the ability of individuals to board and exit the ADF aircraft.”
The spokesperson added that DFAT was working with Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar to “prioritise passengers in need”.
The Albanese government on Sunday pledged fresh funds and personnel to the disaster response, including $2.5 for medical care, water supply, sanitation and hygiene products and services.
A 16-member medical team was also set to be deployed on Monday as dozens of crisis workers deployed in the initial response return to Australia.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said two more RAAF flights would make flights to Port Vila on Sunday.
