Pacific

UNHCR concerned about refugees still in detention camps

17:23 pm on 7 August 2002

The UNHCR in Australia says its concerned that boat people on Nauru who have been accepted as refugees are still being held in detention camps.

220 out of the 529 have been identified as refugees.

100 of that group have already departed to Australia and New Zealand

The UNHCR's Marissa Bandharangshi says this still leaves more than 100 refugees on Nauru detained within the camps.

"Most people are still in the centres which is a concern for UNHCR because they are recognised as refugees, and we thhink that it is very unfortunate, that having found to be refugees are still unable to have freedom of movement which they would normally be enjoying."

Sweden has agreed to accept 9 refugees and New Zealand a further 23 but they are yet to leave Nauru.

Ms Bandharangshi says the UNHCR is still waiting on responses from possible host countries for the remaining refugees.