Latest refugee and humanitarian arrivals to Australia
Nov 27th 2006, 6:49 am
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Latest refugee and humanitarian arrivals to Australia
Australia welcomes the arrival of 345 refugee and humanitarian entrants this week as part of our country’s contribution to the resettlement of those most in need, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Amanda Vanstone said today.
‘Of these arrivals, 180 are refugees, many of whom have been waiting patiently in camps for years,’ Senator Vanstone said.
Refugees are people who are outside their country of nationality and are unable to return because they fear persecution. Their status has usually been determined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which has assessed them to be in need of resettlement.
The remaining 165 are Special Humanitarian Programme entrants. They have been forced to leave their home country after being subjected to substantial discrimination, and also have family or other links in Australia.
Included in the 345 arrivals are 242 people from Africa, 77 from the Middle East and South West Asia, 20 from South East Asia, and six from Eastern Europe.
‘These are all entrants under Australia's refugee and humanitarian programme, which currently provides about 13 000 places each year,’ Senator Vanstone said.
‘Australia is able to offer this level of protection, in part, because of our commitment to maintaining tough border security.
‘There are 94 family groups among this week's scheduled arrivals, including 33 refugees arriving under a dedicated programme for women at risk. This includes women who have lost male family members and are therefore considered particularly vulnerable.’
‘Of these arrivals, 180 are refugees, many of whom have been waiting patiently in camps for years,’ Senator Vanstone said.
Refugees are people who are outside their country of nationality and are unable to return because they fear persecution. Their status has usually been determined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which has assessed them to be in need of resettlement.
The remaining 165 are Special Humanitarian Programme entrants. They have been forced to leave their home country after being subjected to substantial discrimination, and also have family or other links in Australia.
Included in the 345 arrivals are 242 people from Africa, 77 from the Middle East and South West Asia, 20 from South East Asia, and six from Eastern Europe.
‘These are all entrants under Australia's refugee and humanitarian programme, which currently provides about 13 000 places each year,’ Senator Vanstone said.
‘Australia is able to offer this level of protection, in part, because of our commitment to maintaining tough border security.
‘There are 94 family groups among this week's scheduled arrivals, including 33 refugees arriving under a dedicated programme for women at risk. This includes women who have lost male family members and are therefore considered particularly vulnerable.’
