Cambodia refugee deal signed

Canberra – There has been a significant step forward in Australia’s asylum seeker resettlement deal with Cambodia, with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) signing up to facilitate the transfer of refugees from Nauru.

After months of negotiations, the IOM said it had secured a number of key conditions for refugees who choose to transfer from Nauru to the South-east Asia nation.

They include the possibility of the families of refugees moving from their home countries to Cambodia, and the right to live and work anywhere in Cambodia.

Previously, it was stated that refugees would be moved out of the capital Phnom Penh after one year.

The IOM said refugees would also receive healthcare and education and they would also be given the possibility of Cambodian citizenship.

“It could include pre-departure orientation, cultural orientation, transport, reception and then learning the language when they arrive there, helping them find accommodation, helping them find jobs,” IOM spokesman for Asia and the Pacific Joe Lowry said.

He said the IOM had worked to secure the best deal for refugees who choose to move from Nauru to Cambodia.

“And we have got involved with this because we honestly believe it is the best interest of the refugees at this point in time,” he said.

“They’re not going to get to Australia, they’re in limbo at the moment and this is the best deal for them.”

The IOM said the Cambodian Government had agreed that the conditions would now also apply to the 64 refugees who were currently living in the country.

The $40 million deal, which was signed by the then immigration minister Scott Morrison in September last year, has been widely criticised within the country, with the Cambodian opposition party and human rights groups saying one of the poorest nations in South East Asia cannot effectively care for refugees.

The IOM has defended its decision to facilitate the relocation and integration of refugees.

“We look at it as getting the best possible deal that we can for these people who have been living in limbo and in not ideal conditions let me put it that way for a long, long time,” Mr Lowry said.

“These people never expected to be in Nauru, they expected to be in Australia and that’s what they wanted, that’s what their dream was, they’re not going to get there so our mandate is to uphold the dignity of migrants and it’s not being upheld where they are right now.”

As yet, no refugees have chosen to move from Nauru to Cambodia.