<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/26/gaza-palestine-immigrants-australia-cancelled-visas>
"Salma* struggles to sleep at night.
As she lies on a donated bed in a stranger’s house in south-west Sydney, she is
overwhelmed by memories of her siblings and the ill father she left behind in
tents in Rafah, and the family homes in north Gaza that have now been
destroyed. But those memories are not what keep her up.
“I’m very worried,” she tells
Guardian Australia through an interpreter. “I
can’t sleep from the stress, because I don’t have money to pay rent.”
Salma’s young daughter sits next to her in a purple summer dress in a sterile
room at the Settlement Services International office in Liverpool.
By the end of the month the pair are likely to be homeless.
They arrived in Australia on 1 January on visitor visas after fleeing Israel’s
bombardment of Gaza. On the subclass 600 visa, Salma is considered a tourist
and is unable to work. She relies on the generosity of community groups and
charities to house, feed and clothe herself and her child.
Between 7 October and early February, just over 330 Palestinians arrived in
Australia on visitor visas, according to a government spokesperson. Community
organisations say they are stretched, while human rights experts are calling on
the government to introduce a visa pathway for Palestinians fleeing Gaza – just
as Australia has for those escaping other conflicts."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
