Asylum Seekers

A ring-fence around the Rohingya can’t last – Australia’s policy needs to change
A ring-fence around the Rohingya can’t last – Australia’s policy needs to change
Last year, I wrote in The Interpreter about the nightmare scenario unfolding for the Rohingya living in refugee camps in Bangladesh, where dwindling aid, a dependent population,…
Crunch time on Rohingya refugees
Crunch time on Rohingya refugees
The Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have long been seen as a major potential source of maritime arrivals for Australia. In recent weeks, there has been an uptick in departures as…
Where did the Afghan refugees go – and where next?
Where did the Afghan refugees go – and where next?
The majority of Afghans who fled the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 now reside in Pakistan (an estimated 600,000) and Iran (500,000), adding to the totals in both…
Libya’s unlearnable lessons
Libya’s unlearnable lessons
In the face of some depressingly stiff competition, Libya could be the unluckiest country in the world. Appalling as the current environmentally driven catastrophe may be, it’s…
Australia and Indonesia can lead a response to refugee crisis in the region
Australia and Indonesia can lead a response to refugee crisis in the region
A rare ministerial meeting of the Bali Process in Adelaide on Friday is an opportunity for engagement, collaboration and leadership on a matter of urgent regional concern – the…
Concern for Sri Lankans fleeing to India amid economic crisis
Concern for Sri Lankans fleeing to India amid economic crisis
Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic turmoil has given rise to concern about a new wave of people seeking to escape local strife by fleeing to India. The flight of people across the short…
Australia can stand up for the Afghan people, and the time is now
Australia can stand up for the Afghan people, and the time is now
On 19 April, a suicide bomber struck as students were coming out of school in Kabul, Afghanistan, leaving dozens injured and at least six dead. The brutality of the attack – and…
The Beirut explosion and the plight of Syrian refugees
The Beirut explosion and the plight of Syrian refugees
When you have the privilege of working in international relations, there are some experiences that stay with you for life. There are the places you go and the people you meet…
Rohingya in Malaysia, doubly trapped
Rohingya in Malaysia, doubly trapped
For some people living in the Ampang district in eastern Kuala Lumpur, self-isolation is nothing new. The area is known for its concentration of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar,…
The danger of disease in the world’s largest refugee camp​​​​​​​
The danger of disease in the world’s largest refugee camp​​​​​​​
The Bangladesh government made the decision earlier this month to place the southern district of Cox’s Bazar in lockdown as Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh increased. Cox’s Bazar…