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More than 350 refugees – including over 200 children – will
arrive in Australia in the next two weeks, Immigration and
Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Minister, Senator Amanda
Vanstone, announced today.
‘On behalf of all Australians, I welcome them to their new
home and future,’ Senator Vanstone said.
‘More than 160 of the children are under 12 years old and
many of them have spent their entire lives in refugee
camps.’
Senator Vanstone said the 354 refugees had been living in
refugee camps in Tanzania after fleeing persecution in
countries including Burundi, the Republic of Congo and other
central African countries. Australia has been asked by the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to resettle
these refugees.
‘They have been living in desperate situations in these
camps, which do not have running water or electricity,’
Senator Vanstone said.
‘On average they have spent eight years in camps.’
The refugees, who will arrive in stages in the next
fortnight, will settle in New South Wales, Queensland,
Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the
Northern Territory.
The first group arrives in Sydney on Tuesday.
‘The experiences they have had to endure means they need
the support of the Australian Government and all Australians
to ensure their transition to their new lives is a success,’
Senator Vanstone said.
‘As Australians we can be proud of our generous spirit and
the many programs we have in place to help these refugees to
become self-sufficient and participate in the community as
quickly as possible.
‘Our Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy includes
links to essential services such as Centrelink, Medicare and
banking, as well as accommodation support, help to establish a
household, and health and psychological services.’
These refugees are among the 13,000 people who will be
resettled in Australia in 2004-05 under the Humanitarian
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