Afghan refugees disembark on Nauru
A group of 100 Afghan refugees today took their first steps on dry land for three weeks - but they were on the tiny Pacific Island republic of Nauru, not Australia, their intended destination.
Hundreds of locals turned up at Nauru’s main port to watch the refugees being ferried to land on two Australian navy landing craft. The group was mostly made up of men, but included about three women and six children.
As women performed traditional dances, each refugee was handed a small bunch of frangipani flowers.
They were then shepherded toward six dusty school buses for the three mile ride to a makeshift refugee camp built by Australian troops in Nauru’s barren interior.
As they approached the dock, some of the refugees held up a banner proclaiming: ‘‘Thanks to honourable Government of Nauru for giving protection and shelters for Afghan refugees.’’
One man, who did not give his name, said the group was grateful to Nauru for taking them in.
‘‘We wanted to go (to Australia), unfortunately Australia has closed the door for us,’’ he said.
