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Screening to start for refugees on Nauru
21 Sep 2001 UNHCR is set to begin refugee screening on the island of Nauru for a group of asylum seekers who were refused entry by Australia after a Norwegian ship rescued them at sea in late August. -
Breakthroughs achieved on East Timor returns
18 Sep 2001 In a breakthrough development, UNHCR reported that supporters of anti-independence militias are among recent refugee groups returning home from West Timor. A second breakthrough saw the first returns of children separated from their families during the 1999 exodus. -
Refugee Return from West Timor a Priority
14 Sep 2001 West Timor officials agree that the return of some 80,000 refugees to East Timor is a priority, a UNHCR delegation to Indonesia reported. UNHCR plans to be involved in any return, but will be based largely on the East Timor side of the border. -
UNHCR asks Australia to clarify reported asylum seeker 'push-offs'
14 Sep 2001 The UN refugee agency has sought clarification from the government of Australia about reports that it is preventing vessels which may be carrying asylum seekers from entering Australian territorial waters. The new reports follow Australia's refusal in recent weeks to admit two earlier groups of possible asylum seekers attempting to reach the country by boat. -
UNHCR hopes Australian court decision means end to ordeal at sea
11 Sep 2001 UNHCR hopes that an Australian Federal Court decision issued September 11 will bring a quick end to the two-week ordeal of the asylum seekers rescued at sea by the Norwegian ship Tampa. -
Senior UNHCR officials visit Indonesia, East Timor
10 Sep 2001 UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner is in Indonesia to discuss with senior government officials the return of 80,000 East Timorese refugees remaining in West Timor. The trip will include stops in West Timor's provincial capital, Kupang, as well as UN-administered East Timor.