A grieving sister’s heartbreaking story on Q&A has laid bare the reality of India’s crisis, with the tearful audience member warning of a growing threat.
Six hurtful words from a member of the Q&A audience have encapsulated the devastation of COVID-stricken India and highlighted the urgent need to get Australians home.
Audience member Farida made an emotional plea for answers regarding why the government isn’t working harder to bring Australians home, revealing her brother died in Delhi last week while working on the frontline as fatalities continue to surge to horrifying heights across the country.
“Last week, I lost my brother,” she began as the hushed crowd hung on her every word.
“He was a doctor, and he was serving homeless patients. He passed away due to the shortage of beds and oxygen in the hospitals. Mismanagement of essential needs has taken his life.”
She continued: “The government is in denial and blocking social media in this issue. Now the growing crisis in India … Australians are there, and we are worried about them.
“All I want to know is why is the Australian government not doing anything to bring them back? “ Asked by host Hamish Macdonald what it’s like watching the situation unfold from afar, she said it was “devastating.”
“Yes, it is very devastating. And it’s very heartbreaking. I can’t explain.”
She described her brother’s tireless work battling the virus: “Night after night, he used to go to the places where these homeless people are, and he used to visit individually.”
But it was her concern for Australians stranded in India that rang through.
“I don’t want my Australian fellows not to go on. They should be brought home as soon as possible because the crisis is growing … They say the peak has not come.”
Throwing to the panel, writer Parnell Palme McGuinness’s response incited applause from the audience, calling for compassion over politics.
“I am so, so sorry to hear about your brother. And I agree – we need to bring people home as quickly as possible. I think it’s so important for the Australian government to say these are our residents, our citizens, and they are in trouble, and we need to help them come home,” she said.
“I think it’s devastating that flights have been cut rather than increased lately. Partly because hotel quarantine has been so compelling here that we could say we can bring people in.
“Our hotels at the moment are at 50 percent occupancy. No reason why a city like New South Wales, which has handled hotel quarantine very well, couldn’t take in those people. I am glad they are bringing Howard Springs on and other facilities are being built. But there are facilities which can help people.”
