Thousands of refugees – including members of Myanmar’s Rohingya minority – remain stranded and separated by Australia’s uncompromising policies to prevent refugees reuniting with their families. Two years later, the UN’s high commissioner for refugees “urged the government of Australia to uphold the fundamental principle of family unity, and allow family members to be together”. The UNHCR said the long-term, deliberate separation of family members was a breach of a fundamental human right and acutely damaging to children. A series of questions on family separation put by the Guardian to the Department of Home Affairs has not received a response. Psychiatrist Beth O’Connor spent a year working on Nauru with Médecins Sans Frontières, and says long-term, indefinite family separation contributed to depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation and attempts.

Source: The Guardian May 01, 2021 19:52 UTC