Refugees bound for Horowhenua are stuck in Ecuador due to a lack of international flights and safe travel routes. The quota programme started again in early February after borders around the world were closed due to Covid-19, and the first group of 35 quota refugees arrived within the week. The 90 refugees bound for Levin Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Refugees’
First refugees in NZ since border closed complete managed isolation
Thursday, November 12th, 2020The first batch of refugees to arrive in the country since the border closed have now completed managed isolation. The 16 asylum seekers were prioritised as emergency cases because of a perceived high risk of death, jail, or expulsion from their own countries. As many as 1000 more refugees, approved to come to New Zealand Read more
Judging the signs of the times
Thursday, July 2nd, 2020
In the Gospel of Matthew, there is a scene where the Pharisees and Sadducees, in their desire to test Jesus, ask him to show them a sign. In reply to them, Jesus says that in the morning when the sky is red and threatening you say that today it will be stormy. “You know how Read more
Crowded into camps, refugees are sitting ducks for COVID-19
Thursday, May 14th, 2020
The number of refugees in the world may decline this year, but not for a good reason. Today, there are about 70 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, of whom 41 million are internally displaced in their own countries and 26 million are refugees, forced to flee their homelands. Refugees and displaced persons live under conditions Read more
United Nations chief congratulates Uzbekistan on decision to end statelessness for 50,000 people
Monday, March 23rd, 2020United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has congratulated Uzbekistan on the passage this week of legislation set to end statelessness for some 50,000 people in the Central Asian country. In a statement issued late Thursday evening by his spokesperson, the UN chief said that in granting nationality to those who previously had none, Uzbekistan is “profoundly Read more
Conversations with refugees in PNG
Thursday, November 28th, 2019
In a motel’s car park in the balmy air of two-seasons tropical Port Moresby, I had an invigorating conversation with a man who asked me about snow. ‘Does it snow in Melbourne? I have not seen snow in six years. Where I am from there are seasons, and a foot of snow in the winter.’ Read more
Australians ask NZ Bishops for help settling asylum seekers
Monday, October 14th, 2019
Last month I joined with Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) to speak at a series of public forums around the country to discuss the future for asylum seekers who remain in limbo in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. So far I have spoken in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart and Launceston, Adelaide, Perth and Benalla in Read more
Canadian man’s sculpture of refugees unveiled by Pope Francis
Thursday, October 3rd, 2019A Canadian artist’s sculpture has been unveiled in St. Peter’s Square by Pope Francis as part of a Mass for the World Day for Migrants and Refugees. “I wanted this artistic work here in St. Peter’s Square to remind everyone of the evangelical challenge of hospitality,” Francis said. The work in bronze and clay by Read more
NZ ‘s racist immigration policy needs to be changed
Thursday, September 19th, 2019
Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon has criticised a “racist and discriminatory” policy against refugees from Africa and the Middle East, urging the Government to “fix it and make it fair”. The “family link” policy, introduced in 2009, prevents refugees from Africa and the Middle East from resettling in New Zealand unless they have family already Read more
NZ considers suspending funding for Palestinians
Thursday, August 29th, 2019
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says it will consider whether to continue funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after a report due in October. Allegations were made in late July against senior members of the organisation, which AFP news agency reported involving “sexual Read more