10 Jul 2019

7 Nauru refugees leave for US resettlement

6:37 pm on 10 July 2019
A view of a dwelling at refugee Camp Four on the Pacific island of Nauru.

A view of a dwelling at refugee Camp Four on the Pacific island of Nauru. Photo: AFP or licensors

Seven refugees were due to leave Nauru on Wednesday for resettlement in the United States.

The refugees - from Iran, Sudan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka - have been detained by Australia on the island for nearly six years.

They'll be resettled under a deal struck by Canberra with the former Obama administration in 2016, bringing the total to around 580 -- well short of the 1,250 agreed to under the deal.

The head of Australia's Refugee Action Coalition, Ian Rintoul, says the Australian government is running out of options for offshore resettlement.