Death of Christmas Island Detainee

Letter to the Editor - MX - Melbourne
23 January 2003

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to you to correct some statements made recently in the article 'Grieving family returned to detention', (MX - Melbourne 23/02/03).

Contrary to the claims made in your article, the woman who tragically died last weekend in a Perth hospital, after being medically evacuated from Christmas Island, has not had a funeral or been buried in Australia. The woman's body will be flown back to Afghanistan with her husband and children when they return home. This decision was reached after consultations between the Department and the woman's family.

The Department also arranged for a psychiatric nurse, who had been working with the family in Perth, to return to Christmas Island with the family while further arrangements are made for ongoing counselling.

In addition to this, the Islamic community on Christmas Island is being approached to provide support for the family during this difficult time.

Your readers can be assured that the Department has not spared any effort in supporting the personal needs of the family at this tragic time.

Stewart Foster
Director
Public Affairs
DIMIA