By Kriti Chand Rajbar, Trinity College Student
Nauru is an island country in Oceania. As it only has an area of 8.1 sq mi, Nauru is the third-smallest country in the world and the smallest republic.
Nauru is perhaps best known as a remote site used by the Australian government for the offshore processing of individuals who arrive by sea in search of asylum in Australia. The conditions at this refugee centre have been described by the human rights group Amnesty International as a “horror”. Journalists are forbidden from entering the island, so there is scarce information about the refugees there.
Image via the UN Refugee Agency
Hope For Nauru is an Australian based charity founded to help those stranded at these detention centres. What they do is simple but essential: refugees contact them and request essential items (clothes, dried fruit, vitamins etc.) and then the logistics team at Hope For Nauru sources the items that have been requested and sends them to Nauru.
To learn more about Hope For Nauru, I spoke to Nadine Cohen, a director at this charity.
Why is the work Hope for Nauru does important?
We believe our work is important because, more than providing refugees and asylum seekers still on Nauru with much needed clothes and goods, it tells them that there are Australians who care about them, that they haven't been forgotten. In our contact with all who were held on Nauru, over our three years of operation, we have formed friendships and become Image via Hope for Nauru
confidantes, which in fact benefits us as much as it does them.
How has COVID-19 impacted Nauru?
Nauru is actually one of the only countries in the world to remain Covid-free and the whole adult population is now vaccinated. As far as I am aware, this includes refugees. I can’t comment on how it has affected them economically or socially, however.
How can we as students help?
That’s a great question. As a small organisation 100% run by volunteers, we have no budget for big fundraising campaigns, advertising or other publicity. Anything that helps us raise money either through our site or our current Chuffed drive, or get signatures for the petition we are co-running would be the biggest help.
Visit the Hope For Nauru website here for more information.