FIFTY-eight refugees detained by Australia on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island flew out from Port Moresby yesterday for resettlement in the US.
Refugee advocates said 40 left yesterday morning and another 18 followed later yesterday through a deal struck between the Australian Government and the former US president Barack Obama.
They said the men would fly to the Philippines and split into two groups bound for Los Angeles and New York.
SBS news reported the men would be resettled in various US locations including North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Georgia.
One-hundred-thirty refugees detained on Nauru have also been accepted for US resettlement and advocates said they would depart in February.
Last year, a group of about 50 refugees held in both countries were resettled under the deal for the US to accept up to 1250 from Australian offshore detention.
Advocates said about 2000 refugees remained in PNG and Nauru, including 150 children.
Many have been held for five years in the impoverished Pacific nations under Australia’s policy of indefinitely detaining displaced people offshore who try to reach Australia by boat to seek asylum.
