Australia Announces Deal with US to Resettle Refugees

Sydney, 14 Safar 1438/14 November 2016 (MINA) – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced Sunday that his government reached an agreement with Washington to move hundreds of refugees currently in limbo in offshore detention centres to the United States, where they are to be resettled.

Turnbull said it is a one-off agreement and will not be repeated.

The refugees in question are currently housed in Australian-run detention centres in Nauru and on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island.

“It is only available to those currently in the regional processing centres. It will not be available to any persons seeking to reach Australia in the future,” SPA quoted him as telling reporters in Canberra.

“Our priority is the resettlement of women, children and families.”

Turnbull said the resettlement programme will be administered with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).   (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)