December 2014 – refugee news

Globally 

• Earlier this month, the UN ran out of cash to fund their World Food Programme that’s been feeding more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees. Read more here.
• UNHCR urges focus on saving lives as 2014 boat people numbers near 350,000. Read more.
• In a UNHCR meeting in Geneva recently, governments agreed to take in 100,000 Syrian refugees. Read more on this topic here.
• Canada considers prioritising religious minorities in Syria refugee resettlement. Read more here.
• More people risk lives across Indian Ocean despite abuse, deterrence. Read on.
• UNHCR concerns that Montagnards seeking asylum in Cambodia will be found and deported to Vietnam. Read more here.
• Cambodia on track to become refugee model for Southeast Asia. Read more.

At Home in Australia

• The Senate passed a new bill on 5 December 2014 bringing back TPVs for refugees. Read more here.
• Confused about the recent legislative changes in the Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014? The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has composed a concise brief of the key aspects here.
• A helpful article on the proposed ‘Fast Track’ assessment process for refugees has been compiled by the RCOA. Read it here.
• Australia has started returning Hazara asylum seekers to Afghanistan just as Hazaras are preparing to flee a resurgent Taliban. Read the full Guardian article here.
• Thirty-one babies born to illegal maritime arrivals (IMAs) will be allowed to remain in Australia and have their protection claims assessed as part of the legacy caseload. Read more here.
• The Report into the Incident at the Manus Island Detention Centre from 16 to 18 February 2014 found that the violence which killed Reza and injured many others was foreseeable and due to delays in processing of protection claims. Read here for more info or read the full report here.
• Manus Island asylum seekers put in solitary confinement at a rate of three a week. Read more.
• PNG provincial governor Gary Juffa claims Australia’s ‘neo-colonialist’ asylum seeker deal will heighten security risks and foster social divisions in the Pacific. Read more.
• Last remaining Christmas Island asylum seeker children moved to the mainland. Read the full ABC article here.