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Australia agrees to take 40 asylum seekers from UN in Indonesia

Australia has agreed to accept 40 asylum seekers from Indonesia for repatriation.

Elizabeth Byrne reports the decision comes as the United Nations raises concerns about the death of more than 370 asylum seekers in a shipwreck at the weekend.

The United Nations says the deaths of more than 370 people after their boat capsized on the way to Australia, is doubly tragic. UNHCR representative in Jakarta, Raymond Hall, thinks around 30 of the deceased had already been recognised as refugees in Indonesia and were waiting for repatriation. "Recognised refugees get increasingly impatient at the lack of long-term solutions for them." As the UNHCR expressed frustration at the situation, the Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock announced Australia will take 40 refugees already assessed by the UNHCR in Indonesia. "The conditions that we set were that we would choose from amongst those that had relatives in Australia so that families wouldn't be split." Mr Ruddock says the United States has also agreed to take around 250 people, with others going to Canada and other countries.

24/10/01 9:54:21 | ABC Radio Australia News

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