Nothing To Celebrate On Nauru Five Years In

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Australia’s mistreatment of displaced people has reached another deplorable milestone with today marking five years since children have been detained indefinitely on the island prison of Nauru.

Political leaders across both major parties have failed us as well those most vulnerable, World Vision Australia chief executive officer Claire Rogers said.

“In the past weeks the world watched in awe as the Thai football team, including five stateless young boys from Myanmar were rescued from a cave.  There are 124 children trapped on Nauru in a cave of our nation’s making,” Ms Rogers said. 

“These children deserve the same attention, the same resources and the same intent to reach freedom.  Instead we continue to keep them in appalling conditions - some of them have known nothing else their entire lives.”

More than 85 percent of those detained on Nauru have already been recognised as refugees, but still they are not afforded the basic human right of being safe and free, Ms Rogers said.

Those detained on Nauru form part of the biggest humanitarian challenge facing the globe. There are now 68.5 million people who have been forced to flee their homes and are unable to return.

World Vision calls on the Australian government to lift its annual humanitarian intake of refugees to 44,000 so that we play a fair share in building a global solution to the displacement crisis.

“Everyone has the right to live in peace. Australia can welcome more refugees who are fleeing persecution and conflict and give them the chance to rebuild their lives,” Ms Rogers said.

“We need a global solution to this global problem.  We must end all offshore detention and resettle those found to be refugees in Australia.

“The refugees stuck on Nauru and offered no permanent home by Australia should not be detained for one day longer.”

For interviews or further information please contact:

Ruth Lamperd (senior media officer) 0417 765 947 or ruth.lamperd@worldvision.com.au

Picture: Refugees have been trapped for five years on the island of Nauru, a speck of land in the Pacific Ocean.

Media Releases, Asia and the Pacific, Australian Government, Claire Rogers, Refugee Crisis, Refugees, World Vision

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