Nauru refugee detention facility now an open centre
The Nauru government on Sunday announced it would be opening the doors of the Australian-funded detention centre on the island to refugees. It will process the refugee claims of 600 asylum seekers, officially putting an end to the controversial detention facility.
The Justice Department of Nauru also announced that the camp would be open 24 hours a day from Monday and that refugees will be allowed to move about freely on the island.
Justice Minister David Adeang said that the outstanding refugee claims of the 600 asylum seekers would be processed within the next week.
The Nauru government also said that it would be working with the Australian government to provide healthcare to the refugees within the community. The decision to turn the detention centre into an open centre came just before the High Court was about to examine the degree of Australia’s involvement in the facility.
Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton welcomed the announcement and said that rest of the refugee claims are still under consideration.
Few asylum seekers have been resettled on the island but they are on temporary visas and their future is still very uncertain. The suggestion to resettle refugees in Cambodia failed to achieve the desired response because of practical difficulties.
Though the detention has been lifted, the refugees would still be required to eat, sleep and receive medical treatment at the centre only. However, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, it is understood that the refugees can choose to live outside the facility as well.
"The start of detention-free processing is a landmark day for Nauru and represents an even more compassionate program, which was always the intention of our government," Adeang said. Nauru would also receive assistance from the Australian police in resettling the refugees, he added.
The Nauru government said that it would also increase the number of community liaison officials to 320 from 135 to ensure the refugees are safely integrated within the community.
The Nauru detention centre has been infamous for the alleged violence it unleashed on asylum seekers. Reports of sexual and physical abuse on the refugees have become widespread and led activists to launch campaigns against companies that either operate or manage the detention centre in some way. Nauru is also not considered a safe place for gay refugees, since it criminalises homosexuality.
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