How to help refugees

How to help refugees

Writing to politicians

Writing to refugees on Nauru

Helping refugees in the community

Victoria

NSW

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia

There are 83 Sri Lankan refugees held on Nauru by the Australian government, and 8 Burmese who have been there since 2005.

Read the letter written by the Sri Lankan refugees to the Australian public.

Writing to politicians

Points to make about the 83 Sri Lankan refugees in Nauru

· These are young men, most of whom are aged 22 & 23 years, the oldest is 28 years.

· Some have been held, tortured and beaten in Camps in Jaffna because they are Tamil.
see http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2007/2/12541.html

· In reality many are computer and accounting students and at least one is a high School student aged 17years .
Their families raised the money to send them to safety in an attempt to save their lives.

· Sri Lanka is in civil conflict. see http://www.amnesty.org.au/news_features/news/refugee/sri_lanka_560,000_displaced_people_suffer_effects_of_intensifying_violence

· It is too dangerous to send them to India because the Sri Lankan Navy sinks Tamil boats on the basis that they are all Tamil Tigers-not all are.

see http://english.people.com.cn/200609/25/eng20060925_306127.html
and http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/February16140946CH.html

· If they are captured they are forced to serve in the Sri Lankan

· military fighting Tamils. Understandably they do not want to do this.
http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/genocide95/gen9560.htm

· They came to Australia legitimately seeking asylum. Under the Refugee Convention to which we are signatory, Australia is obliged to receive them and assess their claim.

· They should be provided with legal advice and counselling immediately.

· Many are traumatised from beatings and torture received in detention camps in Sri Lanka they need counselling and legal advice.

Please contact Kevin Andrews’ office -

The Hon Kevin Andrews

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship

PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Tel: (02) 6277 7860
Fax: (02) 6273 4144

Email: Kevin.Andrews.MP@aph.gov.au

Please contact Kevin Rudd’s office -

Tel: (02) 6277 4022
Fax: (02) 6277 8495

Email: Kevin.Rudd.MP@aph.gov.au

Tel: (07) 3899 4031

Fax: (07) 3899 5755

Labor should stand up for the Refugee Convention and demand that Howard allow these young men to make their claims and to properly assess those claims.

End this secret incommunicado detention.

Writing to refugees

There are 8 Burmese and 83 Sri Lankans detained on Nauru by the Australian Government.

Their address is:

Sri lankan asylum seekers

c/o IOM

PO Box 292

Republic of Nauru

Telephone: +674 444 3503

Fax: +674 444 3505

Email: srilankanasylumseekersnauru@gmail.com

For other asylum seekers on Nauru:

Dedicated Email Address: asylumseekersnauru@iom..int

Direct Line for Incoming Calls: 674 444 3597

Direct Line for Incoming Fax: 674 444 3505

These numbers are monitored fulltime by an IOM Operations Assistant. They will attempt to locate person or take a message if unable to locate. If the other 3 phones are being used this line is available for urgent outgoing calls as well. IOM Staff are usually in this office until 8pm so others will also monitor once

There are also 3 Public Telephones in the Offshore Processing Centre. One can also be used for incoming calls. 674 444 3503.

Australian e-Fax : 61 2 9475 4844

This fax number is forwarded directly to Asylum Seeker email address. Faxes are printed out and distributed as they arrive.

Emails will be printed out and given to whomever they are addressed to.

General email to the population as a whole will be posted on notice board.

Helping in the Australian community

In Australia there is a lot to be done. In particular, now that most of the people previously in detention are now in the community, there is a real need to help them settle in and come to feel a part of the community which was so hostile to them so recently.

Below is a list of coordinating organisations who do great work helping refugees in the community. They are always keen to welcome new volunteers.

Victoria

NSW

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia

Victoria

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

Head Office

12 Batman St

West Melbourne

VIC 3003