Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said the government is committed to ensuring the safety of people sent to offshore processing centres, calling the Nauru rape allegations “alarming.”

Two refugees were reportedly raped and later found by police. There was a video of the moment the Nauruan police found the victims after the alleged rape. The victims asked help from Australia, while Turnbull said his government took the issue of safety for women “very seriously.”

"We're taking a number of steps to work closely with the Nauru government to ensure the safety and the security of all the refugees living in that community," the ABC quoted the Australian PM as saying. "We fund the deployment of the AFP officers to support and mentor the Nauru police in their basic investigations and their policing."

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the Australian Federal Police was involved in investigating the rape cases, AAP reported. According to him, medical service provider IHMS will provide counselling to the rape victims.

Turnbull said the Nauru government recently established a gender, violence and child protection unit within their department of home affairs. "The whole government is very committed to ensuring that women - that all of the transferees and refugees, but in this context women and children - are absolutely safe in that environment," he said.

According to Turnbull, Australia’s refugee policies, though tough and harsh, save lives. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop earlier said that Australia’s strict asylum policy might not work for Europe because of different geographical circumstances.

Australia’s asylum policies are often criticised for being too strict. In September, the New York Times called the policies “brutal.” The editorial said Europe adopting such policies “would be unconscionable.”

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