Aircraft to bring back stranded citizens: Manning

STATE of Emergency Controller David Manning says a chartered an Air Niugini aircraft will fly out of Port Moresby today for the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu to bring back 103 stranded Papua New Guineans in these countries.
Comm Manning said 103 citizens would be brought back, most from Fiji, with 95, and eight from Vanuatu.
In the outbound journey of the chartered flight, four citizens from the Solomon Islands and 21 Fijians will also be returning back to their countries.
“I apologise for the long wait,” he said.
“When our citizens return, they will be under strict quarantine at the designated facilities.”
Comm Manning warned that any breach of the quarantine orders was an offence.
He urged citizens returning, to strictly adhere to the order to stop any possible spread of the Covid-19.
Comm Manning said the Solomon Islands High Commission had collected 650kg of personnel protection equipment (PPEs) that came in with the PPEs for Papua New Guinea, donated by China and the PNG Government would transport them to the Solomon Islands on this flight.
The flight departs early today and returns in the evening.
Manning also confirmed that 29 citizens moved back into the country from Indonesia through the Wutung border post yesterday.