The One that didn't Get Away.

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Kammekor
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Re: The One that didn't Get Away.

Post by Kammekor »

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 8:09 am Former Nauru detainee Abdullah Zalghani says Australia abandoned his family in Cambodia
By South-East Asia correspondent Liam Cochrane
2 May 2019
Three years ago, Abdullah Zalghani agreed to move from Nauru to Cambodia, as part of the Australia Government's $55 million deal with the South-East Asian nation.

Part of that agreement, according to documents obtained by the ABC, was that "school-aged children will be enrolled in local private schools in Phnom Penh … for up to four years after arrival".

Mr Zalghani's two sons and two daughters finally arrived in Phnom Penh in December, but when he tried to have them enrolled he was told Australia would not honour its promise.

The International Organisation for Migration, which was given $15.5 million by Australia to provide services to the refugees, broke the news to Mr Zalghani.

"They told me the program between IOM and the Government of Australia [is] finished," Mr Zalghani told the ABC.

The refugee resettlement agreement between Australia and Cambodia signed by then-immigration minister Scott Morrison in 2014, expired in September.

Australia's Department of Home Affairs said it would not comment on an individual case.

"Persons settled in Cambodia have each been provided comprehensive support, including financial support, health care, housing, family reunification and education," said a spokesperson for the department.

"After a lengthy period of comprehensive support, individuals are mutually agreed to have settled in Cambodia and no longer require, or have access to, these support measures."

The Zalghani children, aged between 10 and 16, have spent years in a Lebanese refugee camp and are desperate to get on with their lives.

"We don't have school and I'm [feeling] so bad about this," 16-year-old Nour said.

"Please help us, we cannot live here," she said.

Australia's promise to provide health insurance to the family for "up to five years" has also been retracted, according to Mr Zalghani.

Mr Zalghani is one of just three refugees who have permanently resettled in Cambodia, along with another Syrian man and a Rohingya man from Myanmar.

Four others moved to Cambodia temporarily before deciding to return to their home countries.

The IOM declined to comment on Mr Zalghani's case, citing privacy rules and the terms of its contract with the Australian Government.

However, the ABC has obtained an audio recording, made by Mr Zalghani, of a meeting on April 3 in which IOM project manager Brett Dickson told Mr Zalghani that the reference to "private education" was probably a "miscommunication" by Australia, despite the wording of the original agreement.

On April 26, the IOM closed its temporary accommodation centre in Phnom Penh, returning some of the Zalghani family's belongings to them in garbage bags.

The ABC understands that all IOM support services to the three "Nauru" refugees will end in June.

Mr Zalghani said he agreed to move to Cambodia after spending more than three years in immigration detention camps on Christmas Island and Nauru.

He was promised that he would be reunited with his wife and children within months of his arrival in Phnom Penh, though it took two years.

The Syrian signed his "Cambodian establishment package agreement" with the Australian Border Force in September 2016.

Documents Mr Zalghani provided to the ABC indicated the family had received $60,000 in payments, plus a range of support services from IOM.

But Mr Zalghani said Australia's written commitment to provide private school education and health insurance for his children were fundamental reasons he agreed to the resettlement package.

With the money Mr Zalghani received to restart his life in Cambodia, he opened a Middle Eastern restaurant in Phnom Penh.

But business has been tough and he sold it last month to a Cambodian for a "cheap price", staying on to work in the kitchen as a cook.

His monthly salary is $638, but after he pays rent for the living space above the restaurant he only takes home $350.

On the day the ABC visited the Zalghani family in the large room they all share, the children sat listlessly on their beds watching movies or surfing the internet.

Mr Zalghani said that he wants nothing more from the Australian Government, other than for Canberra to honour the agreement made in Nauru.

"Cambodia here, nice city, nice people. But for my kids, if [they don't] have school, not have health [insurance]. That's so bad," Mr Zalghani said.

The cost and quality of education varies hugely in Cambodia.

Many cheap local schools are renowned for poor quality teaching and corruption, while the top private schools are world class but expensive.

If Mr Zalghani sent his children to the International School of Phnom Penh — favoured by Australian diplomats and the Cambodian elite — it would cost between $26,000 and $31,000 per child.

The Zalghani family is now appealing to Canada to take them in.

"[I don't] need anything for me. I can work, I can do anything. But it's difficult here — my kids cannot go to school," Mr Zalghani told the ABC.
"Please Government of Canada, Prime Minister of Canada, please help us," he said.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-02/ ... m/11051660
Still baffles me.

First he needed a safe place
Then he needed his family to come over
Then he needed free medical insurance
Then he needed free schooling for the kids

all that for 20k. Great deal.
Tarndog
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Re: The One that didn't Get Away.

Post by Tarndog »

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 8:09 am Former Nauru detainee Abdullah Zalghani says Australia abandoned his family in Cambodia
By South-East Asia correspondent Liam Cochrane
2 May 2019

The cost and quality of education varies hugely in Cambodia.

Many cheap local schools are renowned for poor quality teaching and corruption, while the top private schools are world class but expensive.
:lol: :lol: OMG. Did they really say world class???

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 8:09 am Former Nauru detainee Abdullah Zalghani says Australia abandoned his family in Cambodia

If Mr Zalghani sent his children to the International School of Phnom Penh — favoured by Australian diplomats and the Cambodian elite — it would cost between $26,000 and $31,000 per child.
And about $20,000-$25,000 overvalued, per child.
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Duncan
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Re: The One that didn't Get Away.

Post by Duncan »

OZ government spent $55 plus million on this deal but no-one can give a breakdown of what that money was spent on . Open the books and show us the receipts to prove where and who got that money. I guess there were many lawyers and government officials involved in writing up this agreement , were their fees included or are they added onto that $55 million.

Another Royal Commission is needed, and another $55 million to fund it.

Rant over.
Cambodia,,,, Don't fall in love with her.
Like the spoilt child she is, she will not be happy till she destroys herself from within and breaks your heart.
epidemiks
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Re: The One that didn't Get Away.

Post by epidemiks »


Tarndog wrote:
CEOCambodiaNews wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 8:09 am Former Nauru detainee Abdullah Zalghani says Australia abandoned his family in Cambodia
By South-East Asia correspondent Liam Cochrane
2 May 2019

The cost and quality of education varies hugely in Cambodia.

Many cheap local schools are renowned for poor quality teaching and corruption, while the top private schools are world class but expensive.
Image Image OMG. Did they really say world class???

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 8:09 am Former Nauru detainee Abdullah Zalghani says Australia abandoned his family in Cambodia

If Mr Zalghani sent his children to the International School of Phnom Penh — favoured by Australian diplomats and the Cambodian elite — it would cost between $26,000 and $31,000 per child.
And about $20,000-$25,000 overvalued, per child.

The quality of tuition at ISSP is overvalued, or the quoted cost?
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Re: The One that didn't Get Away.

Post by PSD-Kiwi »

Tarndog wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 10:03 am
CEOCambodiaNews wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 8:09 am If Mr Zalghani sent his children to the International School of Phnom Penh — favoured by Australian diplomats and the Cambodian elite — it would cost between $26,000 and $31,000 per child.
And about $20,000-$25,000 overvalued, per child.
Starting fees at ISPP are appx USD$18,000 (appx AUD$26,000) for the K-graders, so the quoted fees are correct.
Tarndog
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Re: The One that didn't Get Away.

Post by Tarndog »

PSD-Kiwi wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 10:13 pm
Tarndog wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 10:03 am
CEOCambodiaNews wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 8:09 am If Mr Zalghani sent his children to the International School of Phnom Penh — favoured by Australian diplomats and the Cambodian elite — it would cost between $26,000 and $31,000 per child.
And about $20,000-$25,000 overvalued, per child.
Starting fees at ISPP are appx USD$18,000 (appx AUD$26,000) for the K-graders, so the quoted fees are correct.
My earlier reply was not in regard to the cost, but rather the value.
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Re: The One that didn't Get Away.

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

Australia gave a former Nauru detainee $98,000 to settle in Cambodia. He says that's not enough
By South-East Asia correspondent Liam Cochrane
Updated about 3 hours ago
A refugee who previously said Australia abandoned him in Cambodia now acknowledges he received a lump sum of $38,000 for the education and health insurance of his children, on top of $60,000 in previous payments.

Key points:
Abdullah Zalghani agreed to move to Cambodia in exchange with support from Australia
In May, he told the ABC Australia had not given him enough to cover health and education costs
He spent some of a $38,000 payment repaying debts incurred by his family while he was in detention


Abdullah Zalghani fled Syria with his wife and children in 2011, but left them in Lebanon while he tried to reach Australia.

His boat from Indonesia was stopped on the way to Australia in 2013, and he was detained on Christmas Island and Nauru.

In 2016, Mr Zalghani agreed to be resettled in Cambodia.

In exchange he was to receive a package of cash and payments to a bank account totalling $60,000, as well as in-kind assistance, mostly provided by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

His wife and four children joined him in Phnom Penh in December.

Abdullah Zalghani told the ABC in May that the Australian Government had reneged on promises to provide "local private school" for up to four years and health insurance for up to five years for his children.

"It's difficult here — my kids cannot go to school," Mr Zalghani said at the time.

Australia's Department of Home Affairs said it would not comment on an individual case.

However, after the ABC published the story, the Department of Home Affairs sent a further statement on June 12 saying Mr Zalghani was given a lump sum to fund schooling and health for his children.

"It was emphasised to Mr Zalghana that it was his responsibility to use the lump sum to cover his family's health, education and other expenses as he saw fit," said a spokesperson for the Department, using a different spelling of his name.

"Mr Zalghana acknowledged this would be the last payment, and that he and his family were settled and established in Cambodia," said the Department spokesperson.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-29/ ... h/11257974
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Satiated Parrot
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Re: The One that didn't Get Away.

Post by Satiated Parrot »

pczz wrote: Sun Jan 14, 2018 10:20 am
Barang chgout wrote: Sun Jan 14, 2018 10:08 am And we used to think of Austrslia as a 'good' nation.....

Sent from my SM-G570Y using Tapatalk
And the Eu is pulling the narau stunt in Linya with disaterous consequences as well. Without getting into a debate about the rights and wrongs of immigration and who is to blame for the crisis it is just plain wrong to treat people like this. Send them back where they came from or let them in, don't punish them in worst conditions than we put real criminals.
But Australia can't send them back rightaway because they've applied for asylum. So there's no choice but to lock them up whilst their claims are processed.
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Re: The One that didn't Get Away.

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

This article implies that the Syrian family (mentioned above) are no longer in Cambodia.

From Nauru to limbo: the anguish of Australia's last asylum seeker in Cambodia
Rohingya Mohammad Roshid says he despairs at being stranded with no support from Australia, the nation that set up his transfer
Yaara Bou Melhem and Helen Davidson
Sat 28 Dec 2019 19.00 GMT

Mohammad Roshid is hardly alone among refugees sent to Nauru and Manus Island by Australia when he says he feels “hopeless and broken” and that he is “stuck in limbo without a future in sight”.

But Roshid’s despair is unique, thanks to his decision in 2015 to take up the offer of a transfer to Cambodia, one of only 10 asylum seekers held offshore to do so. The other nine have since managed to leave the country.

Only Roshid remains, trapped in a poor country with no possibility of becoming a citizen and no support from the country that promoted his move – Australia.

“All I am asking for is a permanent solution so I don’t have to live this stateless life,” the 29-year-old Rohingya says. “If I was given an opportunity to be resettled in a third country, I would be able to work and make a future without struggling on a daily basis. I can’t see this is a possibility if I remain in Cambodia.”

A ‘solution’ with few takers
Before the US deal and the New Zealand offer and the Canadian sponsorships, there was the Cambodian solution. It launched in 2014 when Scott Morrison, then immigration minister, clinked champagne glasses with Cambodia’s interior minister and signed a deal to send Australia’s offshore refugees to the south-east Asian country.

The deal was widely criticised over its lack of transparency and the implications of Australia paying to ship its refugees to a country with a track record of human rights abuses and corruption, and which struggles to support its own people.

It ended up costing Australia more than $50m to send 10 people, nine of whom eventually left the country. Cambodia, having received its $40m in aid, said it didn’t want any more.

Roshid, who fled danger in his homeland and sought safety in Australia, only to be dumped on Nauru, now feels abandoned in Cambodia.
Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... n-cambodia
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