More refugee applications rejected

CANBERRA — The immigration department announced on June 20 that a further 372 asylum seekers on Nauru had received decisions on their applications for refugee status. Only 15 were recognised as refugees.

To date, 1141 asylum seekers have had their claims processed: 59% of the 332 Iraqis were approved as refugees, while only 7% of the 751 Afghans fit the government and UNHCR's interpretation of the definition of a refugee. Also, 31% of the 58 asylum seekers from other countries were granted refugee status.

Another 10 asylum seekers on Nauru are yet to receive a decision on their claims. So far, 305 asylum seekers on Manus Island, in Papua New Guinea, have received a decision on their claims, leaving around 30 still awaiting a decision.

From Green Left Weekly, June 26, 2002.

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From GLW issue 497