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Australian government requests The Salvation Army’s help with offshore processing of immigrants.
By Buffy Lincoln
Faced with an influx of asylum seekers from war-torn Malaysia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Australia requested the aid of The Salvation Army in providing humanitarian services to immigrants being processed on Nauru and Manus Island for eventual refugee status in Australia.
The Salvation Army, which had overseen the Australian government’s community detention program in recent months, is now providing welfare services for the exiles who come from many different faiths.
“We’ll be inducting them…talking about services available…and offering a range of programs and activities, including educational and recreational,” said Major Paul Moulds, director of social programs for the Australia Eastern Territory. “The Salvation Army works with people in all forms of situations, war and disasters, and providing spiritual support is the very DNA of who we are.”
The Salvation Army is researching ways to benefit the indigenous residents as well as the visitors, including seeking land for agricultural instruction, establishing a bakery to sell goods, and offering barista training courses and hospitality instruction.
In the Army’s preparation for work on Nauru and Manus Island, it became aware of a wide range of social issues in Nauru such as alcoholism and violence, and protecting women and children.
“We really believe, as The Salvation Army, we can make a big contribution to the communities that we’re going to go to,” Moulds said.
Designated as an offshore processing location Sept. 10, Nauru’s final capacity is set at 1,500 people and Manus Island at 600 people, for a combined capacity of 2,100 asylum seekers.
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