Mobile teams assess refugee visa applications

Countries such as Syria and Jordan are host to 2.2 million Iraqis displaced by war, persecution and sectarian violence. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provides assistance and protection for these people.

The department's post in Amman, Jordan, faces an overwhelming task as many of these refugees have been determined by UNHCR to need resettlement. Each case referred to Australia must be given careful consideration.

Mobile teams of trained and experienced departmental staff visited Amman this year to support the hard-working staff at the post by conducting interviews, assessing claims and processing refugee visa applications, under general direction from the Principal Migration Officer or Senior Migration Officer.

One team travelled to Damascus, Syria, in March 2008 to conduct interviews with Iraqis who had either been referred by UNHCR to come to Australia, or had been proposed by family members in Australia under the Special Humanitarian Program. The team was based in the International Organization for Migration (IOM) offices in Damascus and conducted interviews for two weeks. The IOM provided interpreters and locally engaged staff assisted applicants with their documentation.

Mobile team member Jo Henderson said: 'They were very long days and the work was hard and emotionally challenging. People were clearly distressed and suffering the effects of trauma. Many had witnessed loss and the death of loved ones. We had to acknowledge the experiences of the people we were interviewing, balancing empathy with the need to examine their claims carefully.'

'Not everyone will be granted a visa and these are difficult decisions to make. We debriefed at the end of each day, but the thing that stays with you is the significant trauma these refugees have faced. We were amazed and inspired by their resilience, strength and capacity to survive.'

Since 2003, the department has been sending mobile teams to locations around the world to supplement the processing of humanitarian visa applications. In 2007–08, 11 teams were deployed to Jordan, Kenya, South Africa and Thailand.