More migrants living on the Refugee Processing Centre on Manus Island will call Papua New Guinea home this year.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Rimbink Pato says half of the asylum seekers who tried to enter Australia illegally by boat, but were caught and flown to PNG for processing, are genuine refugees.
Already six people have been given refugee status, and the number could reach 200 living in the local communities by the end of this year.
“Nearly 50 percent of those brought in and accommodated at the Refugee Processing Centre on Manus, have been determined as genuine refugees for the purpose of resettlement, quite a number has left the country and others seeking resettlement,” Pato said.
“I have sent another 150 positive determination last week, so that brings to half of the total number of refugees at the Centre on the Manus Island.”
Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Immigration Detention and Community Statistics says 926 adult asylum seekers are in detention on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea.
Picture source: The Australian.