Revealed: Dozens of Australians kids are STILL trapped in Chinese coronavirus epicentre - including an eight-month-old baby
- Dozens of Australian children remain stuck where the coronavirus originated
- Around 80 kids, from teens to infants, are trapped in China's Hubei province
- The Australian Government said that another evacuation flight was unlikely
Dozens of Australian children are still stuck in the Chinese province of Hubei, where the deadly coronavirus originated.
There are 22 unaccompanied children aged under two, along with five infants who have their parents with them.
Another 60 Australian children aged between two and 16 remain trapped in Hubei with relatives or carers.
The youngest unaccompanied Australian child in Hubei is eight months old.
Around 80 Australian children, including nine-year-old Theresa Li (pictured), are trapped in the Hubei province of China where the coronavirus originated
Foreign Minister Marise Payne says the government is focused on their welfare, but has tempered expectation of another evacuation flight.
'It's not something we are ignoring, not at all, but it is not in the immediate prospect that there will be a further flight,' she told a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday.
China has not allowed Australia to help evacuate children with relatives who are not Australian citizens.
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One Australian family spoke out on their struggle to recover their trapped nine-year-old daughter from Wuhan.
Theresa Li has been living with her Chinese grandparents since the travel ban stopped her from returning home.
Her father Meng Li told 7News: 'We're worried about her health, we're worried about her education and also she's been very far from us and we can't see her.'
Theresa has been stuck inside the apartment for weeks and her grandparents are beginning to run out of food.
Aussie kids ranging from sixteen to eight-months-old are stuck in Wuhan (file image)
'From the beginning, we kept telling her don't worry... you're going to be home very soon but now its already more than six weeks,' Mr Li said.
The family is trying their best to comfort Theresa and stay positive.
Mr Li explained: 'It's a very difficult time for us and every day we're asking about how we can get our daughter back.'
DFAT secretary Frances Adamson said Australia had sought to 'test the system' from the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, but Chinese authorities had consistently refused.
Strict travel restrictions imposed by China are another major factor behind the limited prospect of further evacuation flights.
'We have not given a time frame because it is beyond our control,' DFAT official Andrew Todd told senators.
DFAT has been in contact with 119 Australian citizens and 236 permanent residents still in Hubei.
The 355 people have expressed interest in Australian government support, including possible evacuations.
The Australian Government said that another evacuation flight was unlikely (file image)
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