<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/06/refugees-held-offshore-plead-with-australia-to-be-moved-saying-every-day-is-suffering>
"Refugees held in offshore processing by Australia have appealed directly to
the government to get them off the islands where they have been held for a
decade.
In submissions to a parliamentary inquiry into the Evacuation to Safety Bill –
set to be debated this week – refugees on Nauru and Papua New Guinea told the
government “every day is a struggle and suffering”.
The inquiry into the bill, tabled by Greens senator Nick McKim, is expected to
report back on Tuesday. Of more than 60 submissions to the inquiry, only one
opposed the bill – a submission from the Department of Home Affairs.
The bill will be debated by parliament on Wednesday, but is likely to be
defeated as the government is expected to oppose the bill. The legislation
proposes moving refugees and asylum seekers currently held offshore by
Australia to the Australian mainland. Most have been held offshore for 10
years.
Mohammad, a Hazara refugee from Afghanistan currently held in PNG, who gave
only one name, said: “My hopes are to be with family, find work, stand on my
own feet, feel independent and feel like a human.”
Rajah, a Tamil refugee held on Nauru who suffers from an acute kidney
condition, told the inquiry he requires “both mental health and physical health
care”.
“Every day is a struggle and suffering. We are here in offshore detention for
10 years now. We are also human ... take one minute for us and think about our
feelings and our families. We are separated from our children, siblings and
parents… if we have done anything wrong, tell us.”
The United Nations’ refugee agency told the Australian government it should
move the 150 refugees and asylum seekers still held within the offshore
processing regime to Australia, “to avoid further suffering”.
There are currently 66 refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru, and 92 people
still held in PNG – mostly in Port Moresby. They are not in detention, but live
in impoverished and often dangerous circumstances and cannot leave the islands
freely. Many have serious mental and physical health problems that cannot be
treated where they are held."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
