4 Nov 2003

IOM counsels detainees in Australian camps in Nauru

4:34 pm on 4 November 2003

The Regional Coordinator for the International Organisation for Migration, Dennis Nihill, says they are counselling detainees on Nauru so they can go back home.

310 people detainees, from Afghanistan and Iraq, remain on Nauru where they were placed by the Australian government more than two years ago.

Mr Nihill says his organisation deals in voluntary repatriation which means they can only move people that want to go home.

He says while the process is complex will not be finished by the end of the year, there is still urgency.

"It's an absolute priority to have them move on and once someone is willing to go we move everything we can to make it happen and also we do quite a bit of counselling with families and individuals, empowering them to make a decision and get on with their lives and not remain in this situation for an indefinite period"

Dennis Nihill.