News

17 granted refugee status by Fiji

September 29, 2015 7:48 pm

Fiji has granted refugee status to 17 individuals in the last 9 years.

Director Immigration Nemani Vuniwaqa confirms that 34 asylum seekers entered Fiji since 2006 seeking refuge, and have had their applications processed using proven verification methods.

“Whilst arriving into the country, they will go through this process. Technical assistance in given by the UNHCR and we have officers here in the Immigration Department. It’s quite a massive process, we go back to the country of domicile to state the claims, whether they are authenticated by the UNHCR.”

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13 people who were granted refugee status remain in Fiji and are being cared for by the United Nations Human Rights Office based out of Canberra Australia.

Vuniwaqa confirms the refugees while in Fiji are allowed to work, study and over time, can apply for citizenship having met all the legal requirements.

The highest number of refugees, 8 of them are from Afghanistan, others are from Russia, Tunisia, Pakistan and other nations.