Canterbury-Bankstown calls on Australia to do more for Rohingya refugees
Canterbury- Bankstown Council has called on the Australian Government to do more to alleviate the plight of thousands of Rohingya refugees.
Almost 3000 Rohingya Muslims, a persecuted ethnic minority in largely Buddhist Myanmar, are believed to live in the area.
At last week’s Canterbury-Bansktown Council meeting, Mayor Khal Asfour said he hoped the Federal Government would welcome more Rohingya refugees into the country.
“As the mayor of a refugee welcoming city, I have written to the Government requesting a clear pathway be established for the settlement of Rohingya asylum seekers in Australia,” Cr Asfour said.
The council donated $500 to the United Nations Refugee Agency, a figure matched by Liberal councillor George Zakhia.
Rohingya asylum seeker Mohammad Rauf says he feels blessed to be living in Lakemba for the past three years.
“Arkan (Rakhine State), where I’m from, is like the world’s biggest open prison. Its citizens are like prisoners, they suffer a lot,” he said.
“Homes, markets, shops, mosques and schools have been burned and hundreds of men, women, children and the elderly have died.”
Since arriving in Australia in 2014, Mr Rauf has founded the Arakan Rohingya Development Association — Australia Inc to help other Rohingya refugees.
“The group focuses on helping Rohingya refugees adapt to the Australian way of life,” Mr Rauf said.
“We help them get a job, access study, teach them English and provide sporting and other activities for women and children.”
The group meets every Sunday at 2pm at either the association’s office at 14 Railway Parade, Lakemba, or at the council’s Emerging Communities Resource Centre in Lakemba.
