Fed: Nauru to get $10 million for taking more boatpeople

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2001
Fed: Nauru to get $10 million for taking more boatpeople

Nauru will receive $10 million to fund health, education and environment programs in
return for accepting another 400 boatpeople into its processing camps.

The latest deal will take the number of asylum seekers being housed on the tiny Pacific
island nation to almost 1,200.

The $10 million aid package comes on top of $20 million paid by the Australian government
to Nauru in September to take the first batch of boat people from the Tampa.

There are currently two detention camps on Nauru, together processing 798 asylum seekers.

Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER visited the camps yesterday and pronounced them practical
and efficient with good catering and clean facilities.

The $10 million will be spent on health scholarships, essential medical equipment,
teacher training and mobile classrooms, waste management, water tank repairs, police training
and technical assistance.

AAP RTV eg/klw/jh

KEYWORD: BOAT NAURU (CANBERRA)

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