Refugees resettled in four major centres

Twenty four refugees from the Regional Processing Centre in Manus have been resettled to four major centres in PNG.

They have been transferred to Port Moresby, Lae, Rabaul, and Goroka, following the Refugee Determination Process.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Rimbink Pato, revealed this in Parliament on Thursday in response to a series of questions from Opposition Leader, Don Polye, two days earlier.

Pato gave a detailed response to 12 questions raised by Polye over several legal issues surrounding the Regional Processing Centre and the status of refugees and non-refugees.

He said the resettlement of the 24 determined refugees has been come with its challenges, however, there are arrangements to ensure the transition is a good one.

“There has been variant success with resettlement in PNG, there has been highly skilled and un-skilled but trained refugees who are currently contributing to the greater PNG society where they’re located. The lack of access to a network of support, like the wantok system, continues to be huge barrier to the successful resettlement of refugees in PNG.

“Therefore consistent with the national refugee policy, refugees under the refugee resettlement arrangement are not supported out of any public resources that is by the PNG Government. They are however, receiving an initial resettlement package funded by the Government of Australia to assist them to integrate into PNG communities. This support will be phased out as refugees become self-reliant,” said Pato.

Minister Pato also thanked Manus Governor, Charlie Benjamin, and the people of the island Province for looking afterthe refugees for resettlement.

Author: 
Cedric Patjole