Newsletter: MORE REFUGEES LEAVE FOR THE USA and other local RAR news

Letter from the Asylum Seekers Centre We were pleased to receive a thank you letter last week from Frances Rush, the CEO of the ASC, following the receipt of our $2,000 donation.  Frances writes: “Thank you for your generous donation of $2,000 to the Asylum Seekers Centre. The COVID-19 pandemic is creating new challenges for everyone. Your donation will help people seeking asylum who live in our community in Sydney access the vital support they need in this challenging time. I know that you care about people seeking asylum and will want to continue your support. Now, more than ever, we need to work together to bring everyone with us through this crisis. I would appreciate you staying in touch via our website, Facebook and Twitter to see what’s happening every day and promoting the idea that kindness is viral.”

MORE REFUGEES LEAVE FOR THE USA

Notwithstanding the virtual shutdown of international travel in recent times, a group of seven refugees brought to Australia from PNG on medical grounds, together with a group of 35 refugees from Port Moresby, PNG, were flown to the US last week. This brings the total number of refugees resettled in the US to more than 700. A further 65 refugees have been approved for resettlement and are awaiting transfer. There are still approximately 350 asylum seekers and refugees languishing on Nauru and in PNG, more than seven years after seeking asylum in Australia. Once they arrive in the US, refugees receive support for three months, after which they are expected to fend for themselves. Given that more than 30 million Americans have lost their jobs in recent weeks, and that the country is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the death toll rapidly heading towards 100,000, the prospects for these refugees is less than rosy. All the indications are that their suffering is set to continue, but in a different form. They should, of course, have been transferred to Australia, where they would have been so much safer.

WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS? The present lockdown across Australia has brought into sharp focus the huge importance of the voluntary sector. So many organisations depend on the work of armies of volunteers across the country, and the present crisis has had a significant impact on their ability to deliver vital services.  The refugee support sector, like so many others, has been severely impacted, both as a result of volunteers being forced to stay at home, and the inability of fundraising groups like ours to raise vital funds to support the sector. The Refugee Advice and Casework Services (RACS) is a good example. They write in their most recent newsletter: “We miss our bustling office full of legal student volunteers, who take calls from vulnerable people desperate for help from RACS. They provide almost 700 hours of critical front-end support each month!  We miss the weekly evening “clinics” with our many pro bono lawyers. They generously give over 10,000 hours of their time each year to help us support people fleeing persecution and violence. And we miss our other incredible volunteers, who hold trivia nights, manage stalls at community fairs, run marathons, provide office support – and help spread the word that refugees and people seeking asylum must be treated with respect. Their tireless energy in advocating for people is incredible!” Let us hope that, for everyone’s sake, we can get back to some kind of normality soon. We’ll write to you about our tentative plans in the next newsletter.

UNHCR response to the COVID-19 pandemic   The United Nations High Commission for Refugees has responded swiftly to the growing crisis in refugee communities across the world. With coronavirus now present in every country, including those that host large refugee and displaced persons, the world’s 71 million refugees and forcibly displaced people are among the most exposed and vulnerable to the threat of the virus.  Over eighty per cent of the world’s refugees and nearly all of the world’s internally displaced people are hosted in low-to- middle- income countries, some of them hit hard by conflict, hunger, poverty and disease. Many of the forcibly displaced are in camps or densely populated urban areas, often living in inadequate conditions with limited, fragile public health, sanitation facilities and social protection systems. In a very short space of time, UNHCR has procured and delivered to field operations more than 6.4 million face masks, 850,000 gowns, 3,600 oxygen concentrators, 640 ventilators, over 1,600 housing units and 50 hospital tents. In addition, six tonnes of personal protection equipment (PPE) and medical supplies have been airlifted and US$30 million COVID-19-related cash assistance has been distributed in 65 countries. We are fortunate indeed to have such an effective international humanitarian body with the expertise and passion to response quickly to crises whenever and wherever they emerge.

Check out the index of subjects on our blog http://bellorar.blogspot.com.au It includes articles from many sources and letters to politicians and newspapers. This newsletter is sent to >670 recipients Our Face book is at https://www.facebook.com/Rural-Australians-for-Refugees-Bellingen-and-Nambucca-Districts-269696303205083/timeline/ (579 likes) Twitter Account @RARBellingenNam Email address bellingen.rar@gmail.com   The National RAR web site is at  www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org.au  The National RAR facebook site is at  RAR Facebook

Dozens of refugees flown from Australia and PNG to US despite coronavirus travel bans: SBS

Refugees celebrate their imminent resettlement in the US.

Siurce: Father Giorgio Licini

"Australians in the US have been fundraising to support the refugees' resettlement which has been complicated by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Dozens of refugees who have spent years in Australia’s offshore processing regime have been flown to the United States for resettlement, despite COVID-19 travel restrictions. 

Transfers from Papua New Guinea and Australian immigration detention centres under the US resettlement program are continuing as the US struggles to contain the pandemic that has killed more than 93,000 people there. 

Thirty-five refugees departed Port Moresby on Thursday morning bound for the US via Singapore, and one refugee is due to fly to Finland, according to sources and documents obtained by SBS News.

A handful also departed Australia for the US this week, including several from the Kangaroo Point hotel being used as an “alternative place of detention” (APOD) in Brisbane and from community detention in Melbourne."

"Many of the refugees have underlying health conditions after years of detention and medical neglect on Manus Island and Nauru.
"Their condition puts them at higher risk from COVID-19," Mr Winsor said.

"We are in daily contact with two refugees in Texas who have contracted COVID-19."

On Tuesday, a number of refugees in Port Moresby celebrated their imminent resettlement under the Australian-US scheme with priest Giorgio Licini, the general secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands.

“They were relaxed but had mixed feelings, especially that there are still some left behind, many are those who were never given refugees status and could not go home,” Father Giorgio said."


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Newsletter for 26 June 2018 Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

_{Roadside demonstration: Bellingen, Thursday 28th June}

_{Six more refugees flown to the USA}

_{Terminally ill Hazara man finally leaves Nauru}

_{Proposed national RAR protest: Thursday 19th July}

_{Andrew Wilkie MP tables the Refugee Protection Bill in parliament.}

_{Roadside demonstration: Bellingen, Thursday 28th June}

_{Our next roadside demonstration will take place on Thursday in Bellingen from 2.30 to 4.00 pm. You will find us at our usual location  adjacent to the Yellow Shed, opposite the entrance to the golf club, on Waterfall Way. Please try to join us if you can and help us to continue to remind the public that it is time to end the cruel and inhumane policy of offshore detention. We have lots of banners and placards to share.}

_{Six more refugees flown to the USA}

_{A few days ago, six more refugees were flown to the US from Manus, bringing the total from Manus and Nauru to almost 300, which is less than a quarter of the figure agreed between our PM and former US President Obama almost two years ago. Even if the proposed 1,250 are eventually resettled in the US, this will still leave more that 1,000 people indefinitely stranded in these remote and dangerous places in pursuit of the political agendas of the major parties. We must keep up the pressure for change, as it is clear that politicians will not  seek to end this torture unless more Australians demand it.}

_{Terminally ill Hazara man finally leaves Nauru}

_{We reported recently on the case of 63-year-old Ali (not his real name) , who is dying of cancer, and who needs to be transferred to Australia for palliative care. As in almost every other case, the  request for Ali's transfer was denied by our government. Minister Dutton is reported recently as stating that "we can't afford a single act of compassion," but the Australian people took a different view. More than 2,000 doctors signed an open letter demanding that Ali be brought to Australia for palliative care, more than 20,000 people signed an online petition, and thousands more, including many RAR members, sent emails and made phone calls to Dutton's office. The result is that Ali was flown out of Nauru on Saturday and it is believed, but not yet confirmed at the time of writing, that he is now in Australia.}

_{This action underscores our belief that people-power, when it is coordinated  and determined, can, and does make a difference.}

_{Our next challenge is to get those on the Left of the Labor party to put pressure on their party to finally put an end to the disgraceful and shameful policy of offshore detention. Please don't forget to sign our open letter to the Labor party conference delegates demanding just that.}

_{We can do this!}

_{Proposed national RAR protest: Thursday 19th July}

_{In a recent update, our national RAR committee is proposing that all RAR groups hold a protest  to mark the fifth anniversary of the re-opening of the Nauru and Manus detention centres.  They suggest that we might hold the protest outside the office of our member of parliament between 4.00 and 6.00 p m., that we bring along 12 empty chairs in memory of the twelve asylum seekers who have died on Nauru and Manus whilst in the care of our government, and that we invite the media to attend.}

_{If you have any thoughts on this proposal, and would like to support it or something similar, please let Mike know what you think by emailing him at: mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com. This would be a good opportunity for us to come together and send a clear message to government that we intend to continue to protest about their cruel policies.}

_{Andrew Wilkie MP tables the Refugee Protection Bill in parliament.}

_{Last week, the independent MP Andrew Wilkie tabled a bill in parliament which would put an end to offshore detention and would establish a regional framework, written in accordance with international law, to ensure that refugees are treated humanely across the region.  It would involve the establishment of a network of centres in the region, including Australia, where asylum seekers could go to be registered, have their immediate humanitarian needs met and lodge a preference for a country of resettlement.}

_{Andrew Wilkie's Bill was seconded by Cathy McGowan MP, who made specific reference to the important work of the local RAR group in her Indi constituency, and acknowledged the presence of the national RAR committee members in the public gallery.} 

_{You can find an excellent fact sheet about the proposed Bill on our blog. You might then want to write to MPs in support of the Bill.}

_{The fact sheet is in the post below}

_{Check out the index of subjects on our blog  http://bellorar.blogspot.com.au} 

_{It includes articles from many sources and letters to politicians and newspapers.}

_{This newsletter is sent to >580 recipients}

_{Our Face book is at https://www.facebook.com/Rural-Australians-for-Refugees-Bellingen-and-Nambucca-Districts-269696303205083/timeline/}

_{(482 likes)}

_{Twitter Account @RARBellingenNam}

_{Email address bellingen.rar@gmail.com}

_{The National RAR web site is at  www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org.au} 

_{The National RAR facebook site is at  RAR Facebook}

Newsletter for 26 September 2017 Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and NambuccaDistricts

_{Next Roadside Demo - Coffs Hospital Thursday October 12th 2:30pm}

_{Next Market Stall -Valla Beach Sat 7th October}

_{The US refugee deal}

_{Arash's story}

_{New RAR petition}

_{Roadside demonstration report}

_{A big thank you to all our supporters who turned up last Thursday for our roadside demonstration in Nambucca Heads. Another successful event, with lots of positive support, together with the inevitable hostility from a small minority of passing motorists. We clearly still have a significant job to do in informing the Australian public about the reality of our government’s cruel and inhumane treatment of asylum seekers . With a largely hostile media , and a compliant Opposition in parliament, we have to continue to articulate the need for a facts-based and humane response to the plight of asylum seekers.}

_{Our next roadside demonstration will be on Thursday 12th October in Coffs Harbour, opposite the Base hospital, from 2.30 until 4.00 pm. Why not make a resolution to join us and put the date in your diary?} 

_{The US refugee deal: some good news at last}

_{Last week the government announced that some 54 refugees from Nauru and Manus island will be resettled in the US in a matter of days. This is great news for this group of people and will finally bring to an end their terrible suffering in offshore detention. Let us hope that they will receive a positive welcome in the US and that they will get the support that they will need to rebuild their shattered lives. It is expected that more refugees will be resettled in the months ahead, but there is currently no available concrete information either about the timescale or the numbers.}

_{Meanwhile, asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected continue to be forcibly returned to their country of origin, and a number of genuine refugees have been coerced into returning to their home countries rather than face a life of indefinite torment in offshore detention. Unbelievably, this includes Rohingya refugees who are being offered incentives to return to Mayanmar. The Iranian government, however, refuses to take back is citizens who face forced removal. Our government’s response is to build a new detention centre at Bomana, on the outskirts of Port Moresby,  at a cost of $20 million, where more than 100 Iranians will be indefinitely detained at the Australian taxpayers’ expense. All of this, of course, is designed to “prevent drownings at sea”!}

_{Arash’s story}

_{Arash is an Iranian refugee who is held on Nauru.  His wife was brought to Australia  from Nauru more than a year ago because of health complications during her pregnancy. His daughter, who he has never seen, was born in Sydney in March.  The Australian Border Force has told him that he can apply for resettlement in the US, but not with his family. He must release all custody of his daughter, and has been sent a “release of custody” form by the ABF. Aresh explains: “The ABF said to me officially, you have two options: bring your family to Nauru and you can go through the US resettlement application process as a family; or your wife and daughter can stay in Australia but you have to give custody of your child to your wife and you will be processed as a single man.” Why should Aresh be forced to choose between family and freedom? Why does our government continue to treat people with such callous inhumanity?}

_{Please email Minister Dutton at: minister@border.gov.au. to demand that Aresh, who has refugee status, be brought to Australia to be reunited with his family.} 

_{Our new RAR petition}

_{We have put together a new petition on behalf of the national RAR  groups, which we will launch at our next market stall, to be held at the Valla Beach market on Saturday 7th October. The petition is in the form of an open letter to Shayne Neumann, the Labor Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Our aim is to attempt to shift the position of the Labor party from its current stance of strong support for the key pillars of the  government’s asylum policy. It officially supports the policy of turning back asylum seeker boats, of indefinite offshore detention and of refusing to resettle in Australia any asylum seekers who arrive by boat. There is, however, a significant minority of Labor members and parliamentarians who want to move to a more humane and principled policy, and we need to pressurise the opposition to move in that direction. It’s worth remembering that there are many people who arrive in Australia by air each year who subsequently lodge a claim for asylum, and who are immediately issued with bridging visas with rights to work, education and other benefits. The International Refugee Convention does not permit countries to discriminate against asylum seekers in relation to their mode of arrival.}

_{We’ll send out details of the new petition in next week’s newsletter.}

_{Check out the index of subjects on our blog  http://bellorar.blogspot.com.au} 

_{It includes articles from many sources and letters to politicians and newspapers.}

_{This newsletter is sent to >500 recipients}

_{Our Face book is at https://www.facebook.com/Rural-Australians-for-Refugees-Bellingen-and-Nambucca-Districts-269696303205083/timeline/}

_{(482 likes)}

_{Twitter Account @RARBellingenNam}

_{Email address bellingen.rar@gmail.com}

_{The National RAR web site is at  www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org.au} 

_{The National RAR facebook site is at  RAR Facebook}