Asylum Decisions Handed Down on Nauru
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) announced today that 114 Afghan asylum seekers on Nauru had received decisions from the Australian Government on their asylum claims yesterday.
Of these, 6 were found to be refugees.
In addition, yesterday 244 Afghan asylum seekers being processed by the UNHCR also received decisions on their asylum claims. Of these 25 were found to be refugees.
The decisions bring to 745 the total number of decisions handed down on Nauru by Australia and the UNHCR (see attached table).
"Less than a third of asylum seekers on Nauru have yet to receive a decision. Processing of these cases is well advanced and decisions are expected to be handed down in the coming weeks," a DIMIA spokesman said.
Under the Refugees Convention, refugee status is conferred where there is a current or foreseeable need for protection.
All of those who received decisions this week were reinterviewed in recent weeks in light of the substantial changes which have taken place in Afghanistan since they left their homeland. This has given them the opportunity to provide any new information in support of their claims for protection now that the Taliban has been defeated and the Afghan Interim Authority has been established.
"Those found to be refugees will continue to receive support, including accommodation, food, clothing and medical care while resettlement opportunities are being sought for them," the spokesman said.
The UNHCR is referring for resettlement to countries of resettlement those individuals it has found to be refugees.
The Australian Government is negotiating with possible resettlement countries for the resettlement of those individuals found by Australia to be refugees.
"The Australian Government has indicated that Australia will take its fair share of those found to be refugees but is seeking the assistance of the international community to provide resettlement opportunities in the spirit of international burden sharing," the spokesman said.
All of those who are found not to be refugees will have the opportunity to obtain counselling on their options. They are able to request a review of the decision or apply for the Government's reintegration package should they wish to return voluntarily.
The package, announced last month, includes cash assistance of $AUD2,000 per individual adult or child or up to $AUD10,000 per family unit comprising husband, wife and dependent children.
Decision Hand Down Summary - Nauru
As at 13 June 2002
| Afghan | Iraqi | Other Nationalities | Total | ||||
| Approved | Refused | Approved | Refused | Approved | Refused | ||
| Decisions handed down April 2002 | |||||||
| Australia | 0 | 0 | 60 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 79 |
| UNHCR | 7 | 0 | 126 | 75 | 14 | 22 | 244 |
| Decisions handed down May 2002 | |||||||
| Australia | 2 | 0 | 10 | 49 | 3 | 0 | 64 |
| Decisions handed down 12 June 2002 | |||||||
| Australia | 6 | 108 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 114 |
| UNHCR | 25 | 219 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 244 |
| TOTAL | 40 | 327 | 196 | 136 | 17 | 29 | 745 |
NOTE - This table includes UNHCR and Australian processed asylum seekers on Nauru.
13 June 2002
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