For Melbourne mother Sojanya Gullapalli, the last few months have been extremely difficult. She has been longing to be reunited with her five-year-old daughter Heshvitha, who remains stranded in Andhra Pradesh, south-eastern India, by Australia's tough travel restrictions. "I haven't been eating or sleeping well. I'm just so desperate to have my daughter in India with me," Ms Gullapalli told SBS News. "Daily I am crying. Daily I have these emotions and my mental health has suffered." Separated for 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian government's controversial India flight ban from 27 April until 15 May provided a further barrier.