NAURU I am an Afghan asylum seeker from Nauru camp. I am writing this letter hoping that you would understand and help us.
About nine months ago the Australian government brought us to Nauru Island and put us in a very bad camp called Topside. They left our fate in the hands of IOM [the International Organisation of Migration].
The climate is very bad, people's future unknown and as a result almost everybody is suffering from psychological and emotional problems. Nine months ago we were interviewed by the Australian department of immigration and just recently received the result of that interview.
Everybody is refused and nobody is accepted as a refugee. We have been given 28 days and are threatened with being forcibly deported back to Afghanistan.
Even though the situation in Afghanistan is not good and the lives of some people are in serious danger, the immigration office says we have to go back.
The Australian government does not allow any international organisation which helps refugees to visit us and not even the press reporters are permitted to speak with us.
They are keeping us like prisoners and we are living in a very bad and sad situation. We don't have any means to contact our relatives and we are deprived of all our human rights and any kind of help. We don't know where to turn to for help. Nobody in the world is caring for us or willing to help us.
I am in despair. I have not received any response from letters I have sent to my friends. I believe that everybody has forgotten us. I don't know what our crimes or sins are. Would you please help us?
[This letter was sent to a refugee supporter in Australia who has been corresponding with asylum seekers on Nauru. It was originally written in Dari.]<|> From Green Left Weekly, August 14, 2002.
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