The BBC reports that UN human rights commissioner, Navi Pillay, has called Australia’s policy of mandatory detention towards asylum seekers “a shadow over its human rights record.” Pillay also said that a deal proposed earlier this month that would send 800 asylum seekers away from Australia and to Malaysia potentially violates refugee law. Australian officials have not responded yet. Click here for the article.
According to Brazilian authorities, at least 1,500 Haitians have entered the Amazon region since last year’s 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti, killing about 200,000. Hoping to find construction jobs on Amazonian infrastructure projects, such as the Santo Antonio and Jirau hydroelectric dams, many are being refused entry until federal police officials receive orders on how to classify the migrants. Read and watch more here.
Refugees from the conflict in Ivory Coast are continuing to arrive in Togo, six weeks after the civil war in the West African nation ended with the capture of former President Laurent Gbagbo. According to one estimate, refugee numbers in a camp set up in Togo’s capital, Lome, have increased to 4,800 from 2,700. Most of the refugees are supporters of Gbagbo, who was captured by forces loyal to President Alassane Ouattara on April 11, almost five months after a disputed election triggered the political crisis. Click here for the article.
Migrants fleeing Libyan and Tunisian turmoil continue to arrive by the thousands in several European countries. The latest rush includes many migrants from elsewhere in Africa or Asia who were working in Libya when war broke out. According to the International Organization for Migration, other migrants are stuck at the borders of Egypt and Tunisia, countries which are themselves experiencing turmoil. Europe’s growing anxiety over increased number of migrants was echoed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as he asked for assistance from other countries and warns of the impending “human tsunami.” Click here for the article.