12 Sep 2012

Nauru Government comfortable if asylum seekers stay long term

1:46 pm on 12 September 2012

Nauru's Foreign Minister, Dr Kieren Keke, says his government is comfortable having asylum seekers stay for five years or more if they have as normal a life as possible.

Dr Keke says he is expecting 40 to 50 asylum seekers to arrive from Christmas Island by the end of this week.

The Australian government had not yet detailed how many refugees would be transferred by plane, saying only the group wouldn't be particularly large.

Dr Keke says they want to ensure that the asylum seekers can live normal lives - engage with the Nauruan community, have their children attend school and have some purpose while they are on the island.

Initially the asylum seekers will be housed in tents with permanent accommodation facilities still being refurbished.