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People rescued after their boat capsized north of Australia arrive at Christmas Island Friday.
Officials in Australia said 109 people had been rescued after a boat carrying refugees apparently fleeing life in Afghanistan capsized more than 120 miles north of Christmas Island, but warned it was looking "increasingly grim" for up to 100 other people still in the water.
Merchant and navy ships and five aircraft were involved in the search for survivors a day after a crowded boat turned over far from land in the Indian Ocean. A 13-year-old boy was among those rescued.
However planes flying over the area spotted a number of bodies in the water.
Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare told Sky News Australia that people "should brace for more bad news" on the number of dead, The Australian newspaper reported.
"No good news... I can't report that (surveillance aircraft) have seen people alive in the water at this point in time," Clare added. "This is looking increasingly grim by the hour,'' he told Macquarie Radio.
He said the ocean was "pretty rough," but added "we are still in that critical window" for the rescue operation, The Australian said.
Clare said everyone on board the boat appeared to be from Afghanistan.
Authorities in Australia believe the boat started its journey in Indonesia, not Sri Lanka, as initially suggested by some in Indonesia, The Australian reported.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard, attending the United Nations Rio summit in Brazil, told reporters that "details are sketchy, but what is apparent is that there has been a large loss of life at sea."
'Perilous journeys'
Sky News Australia reported that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees had called on Australia to find safer ways for asylum seekers to seek protection.
The UNHCR said the boat's capsizing "reinforces the need for renewed international solidarity and cooperation to find protection options for people that would help to reduce the need for these perilous journeys by boat."
"UNHCR calls on Australia and countries in the region to redouble their efforts to provide safer and more secure options for people to find protection other than through these dangerous and exploitative boat journeys," it added in a statement.
Fears for 200 refugees as boat capsizes north of Australia
Refugees are a hot political issue in Australia. So far this year, more than 50 boats carrying more than 4,000 people have been detected by Australian authorities.
Refugees seeking asylum in Australia often set sail from Indonesia heading for Australia's Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island in dangerous and overcrowded boats, with the help of people smugglers.
In December 2011, up to 200 died when an overcrowded boat sank off the coast of East Java.
In 2010, 50 asylum seekers died when their boat was thrown onto rocks at Christmas Island. In 2001, a crowded boat known as the SIEV X sank on its way to Australia with the loss of 350 lives.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Just stay in Afghanistan then.
I just can't understand why a people who were raised in a land-locked country full of mountains and sand would have trouble with boating safety.
No. Let them come out of Afghanistan. That place is an insane asylum. Have you read any of the stories concerning tribal law? If you had then you would be applauding the ones brave enough to leave.
They aren't refugees, they are illegals.
Sounds like suzuki doesn't understand legal practices, or much else
Sounds like Suzuki Takeo is the only comment of the above with a sense of compassion, knowledge of legal practices and welfare of fellow human beings.
I was born in Australia and I am totally disgusted with the way indigenous people here are treated, plus these poor boat people. I have spent much time in the Middle East and the people are wonderful.
If you are not indigenous, you are a boat person, somewhere down the track.
Who invaded Afghanistan and Iraq?.
GEORGE W BUSH.....TONY BLAIR.....JOHN HOWARD,,,,,,,,remember???????.
These poor people have had their lives ruined by yet another illegal invasion, the first was the USSR in 1979, which ended up in the collapse of the Russian Empire, it sent them broke, killed 100's of 1.000's and they achieved NOTHING.
The same situation is now underway by the bis US of A and it's remaining allies, the US of A can't afford to feed it's own people, have a google search on poverty in the US of A, then you will realise that the US of A is a declining empire, never to be the power of the G W Bush left for Barak Obama.
Red Neck Australians, you make me sick.
Suzuki sounds compassionate to you? I think she sounds nasty, and cliche.
Australia should know better about the contributions, these Afghans will make! Some never learn.
Muslims in Lebanon butchered Christians and then came by different ways to Australia doing their Ramadan style soap operas.
Even Pakis have sneaked in!
Soon, in Sydney they formed their ghettos and gangs. They are the biggest security and law and order threats.
Australia and no non Muslim nation should take these, who ruined their places.
They turn their new places to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and other basket case nations gradually.
Why should Australia have to find safer ways??? If the UNHC is so concerned, why don't they do it themselves???
Interesting that the refugees are risking their lives trying to get to Australia rather than some of the countries closest to Afghanistan.
Evening chefaz...they were my exact same thoughts...
HEY SHONA!!! Good to see you. Was hoping that you showed up on this one. Have been noticing that Australia seems to have the same problems as so many other countries and they are the same problems over and over. Taking in refugees who are grateful for the asylum and wish to assimilate are one thing - taking in invaders who wish to take over are a whole other issue. Maybe the UN should take them in since they are so concerned.
http://barenakedislam.com/2012/06/18/attention-australians-protest-against-walk-together-a-un-initiated-refugee-week-event-that-supports-the-invasion-of-australia-by-thousands-of-mostly-muslim-parasites/
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/muslims-use-multiculturalism-to-push-for-sharia/story-fn59niix-1226057100331
Hey Chefaz------who invaded their country, BLOCK HEAD.
How far back would you like to take this???
Charming. Certainly a testament to your intelligence, education and desire for respectful dialogue. Was this something that you learned in Trolling 101???
Morning chefaz..ignore "Step Hen"...looks like the feral factory is still churning them out....there is always one in the crowd. With luck he will take a long walk off a short pier....enjoy your day...
When most don't care for religion much these days, followers of Islamic cult, especially Sunnis, are fast marching backwards to their seventh century desert tribal days of rapings, lootings, killings and genocides of non-Muslims.
We see Muslims inventing problems in most of the non-Muslim nations.
Even in the US, we can notice these actions!
Australia, Britain and many European nations are getting the heats!
When Muslims form more than five percent, downhill march starts.
Muslims are inventing problems in Thailand, Philippines, India and other places.
When they form more than 30 percent then it is Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Lebanon (few decades back)
In Muslim majority nations, they kill each other!
Better wake up before it is too late on inventions of problems by followers of one-way street Islamic cult!
If I take a 'long walk off a short pier', no problem, I love swimming.
Exactly! And why isn't Indonesia being criticized for allowing people smuggling to occur under their noses. Not the first time, either. There's no way they didn't know this was happening.
Kiwi...the Indonesian government will not stop it as it fixes 2 of their problems..gets rid of the people out of their country and involves millions of dollars that they syphon off...so they are more than happy for it to continue....
Well I think Ms Gillard and cronies should stop ALL aid to Indonesia until the people smugglers are stopped as well. We don't want these people here and by the way the story did not tell you that these were all MEN.!!
Where are the women and girls???
Why don't these citizens of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other basket case Muslim nations go to their own great Muslim nations?
Why do they sneak in even facing deaths to our nations?
Most of the Muslim nations, especially ME barbaric and bigoted Sauds and co, don't give citizenship rights, right to worship non-Muslim religions, right to speak freely and so on!
In that case, how do these one-way street Islamic religious Nazis, expect them in our places?
Why come in the first place?
And why are those who are unhappy go back to from where they have come?
Even hypocrisy, double standards, double dealing, double taking and being ungrateful and backstabbing have their limits!
Wrong "Down Under".
Civilized countries taking in uncivilized people = a recipe for disaster. Always.
Just go to Florida and see the disaster that took place there. It's very rough neighbor "Hoods" down there.
Just love that multiculturalism!
Uncivilized one can tolerate and put up with. Many Islamic religious Nazis are beyond what the world has seen till now.
Many end up as liabilities and curses on the societies and places.
They start their stealing welfare measures, misusing democratic freedoms, raping, looting and then their Islamic radicalism and terrorism!
If there are cartoons on Mohammad, then there are riots in our places!
Australia must not have its quota of Muslims filled yet, because we don't hear them kicking up any great fuss. Don't refuges from Cuba actually have to make it to dry land before they can be legally assisted?
N. Amer...we take approx 150,000 legal refugees a year that have gone thru the proper channels and who we can identify and know they are genuine. I can ensure you "it is hitting the fan here big time" with these boats rolling up.
A cable report just said 500,000 Asian's were among the 1,000,000 new immigrants allowed in by the US Congress and US State Department last year. They won't change a law or practice made in 1910. Who won't you say? Congress. The elected few who claim a badge of Republican or Democratic party allegiance.
I like the above commentary, Florida, Muslims, Civilized vs uncivilized, it has nothing to do with Australia, tough sh*t, go to a neighbor, not a far off land when you can't even swim. United Nations High Commission for Refugees, go pay for this yourselves, it's not up to Australia to provide safe transportation to illegal aliens.
When Muslim's want to leave one of their Islamic areas, they of course head towards a westernized civilized country so they can breed, then hate the country they immigrated into. The only solution is to make them stay where they are from.
Why didn't they seek refuge in Indonesia? They were already there.
Indonesia is another Muslim majority country. They also a third world country ("developing country" for the PC crowd). And discrimination will be tolerated in Indonesia - where as the laws and implementation are against it in Australia.
Yep, they hate the 'West' and all its 'Western moral values', but where's the first place they think of to illegally emmigrate to? Of course...then they bitch because we don't allow 'honor killings' or Sharia Law and such.
I am really aghast at the hate being spewed against people who have to flee their country that has been racked by one war or other for decades. The US, to some extent, has perpetrated this by an irresponsible withdrawal on an irresponsible timeline that was irresponsibly telegraphed to the Taliban by this administration who did so to attempt to get President Obama re-elected. He ignored the Military commanders on the ground just as he ignores Congress and the American people like they just don't exist for him.
THESE HUMAN BEINGS were trying to find a better life, the cards they were dealt put them in a very tragic situation and they tried to provide a better life from themselves and their families.
OK heartthrob, have you ever thought they should do this the legal way? One of the reasons that western nations have progressed is that they have laws that control immigration and other topics.
Marsupial.. find a better life by all means but do it legally...a pretty basic requirement of any land I would have thought.
ANOTHER OUR boat is sinking hoax most likely!
Israel is sending Somalians back by the planeload that entered illegally through it's border with Egypt. It is called overpopulation of the planet and it is notable that it doesn't appear these job seekers go through the Asian countries's borders or to Mother Russia. Hopefully Australian's have a budget for that too. Unfortunately, the job seekers will gather in their own communities and live under the same religion that caused them to flee their birth lands to begin with. Some arrogant power hungry cleric will rule over them and abuse their children and threaten the Australian government workers. Yada yada yada.
Hey red neck Yank. George W Bush's budget for the illegal invasion of Afghanistan was $500Billion, it is now into the $3 TRILLION. Your country can't look after it's own, one in six septic tanks,,,Yanks, lives under the poverty level, go down with your ship Yanky, or go to Israel, as the Americans are paying for that also.
In God You Trust,,, who else would you!!!!!.
Hey red neck Yank.
The Israeli's are invaders of Palestinian land also,
Abusing children happens in the catholic church, moron.
It was not Islam that made them flee their countries, it was the illegal invasion of the 3 terrorists,
GW Bush,,,Tony Blair,,,,John Howard.
Read your history books Block Head.
Why do you call yourself sargent? You have all the hostility and words of you know what.
Just stay 'unbelievable', and keep pretending you believe,,,,yourself,,,,, Dick Head.
We get so sick of hearing the term here "Refugees" and it is an insult to the genuine refugees who have gone thru the proper channels, been processed and now told...Sorry but these boat people have just taken your place. Re apply in 5 years. These "refugees" are people from Pakistan, India (no harm in trying) Sri Lanka, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. They are "Economic free loaders". They have nothing to offer this country, they cannot speak English, have no skills and meant to be dirt poor. Yet not one TV reporter, News channel or person has ever asked the question of them "How did you get to Indonesia from your country and how did you pay for it"? They sure as heck did not walk!!!...No they get on a plane FLY into Indonesia pay $7,000 per person US (the price has dropped was $20,000) to the people smugglers and board a stinking boat and head for here. Well I like what the NZ prime minister said when some Chinese were going to head there after been booted out of here..."You are not wanted and nor are you welcome." If you want to come here, apply like everyone else. We are getting very sick of these bloody boats and like all other countries we have our own problems. They send their children as young as 9 alone on the boats in the hope they get to here...And then they apply for family reunion...so far the cost to Australia, one billion dollars and counting. We have always welcomed people from all over the world. 150 nationalities call Australia home. But these refugees throw their papers over board so they have no identification...so they are put into detention and then scream "we are racist"...Funny about that because when they are asked why don't you go to Canada, the US...they all scream no no..we want Australia...sorry but we don't want you unless we know who you are and where you are from. As for the Indonesian government, they do nothing to stop them and that is because they are corrupt and there is to much money involved. It goes right up to the top. So come here by all means, but come legally and with identification.
Tragic,truly.It is sad that so many people in this world live in terrible circumstances.It is also sad that there are people who want to tear down,this country,its' culture,its' religion,and have millions come here to reap what WE have sowed/sown. Please not,the worlds' population has more than doubled in 60 years.around 1960 there were 3 Blln,now 7 Blln.The west can't take in all the breeding the rest of the world does
No place is as good as home.
These people were foolish enough to believe Australia could provide them a better life in future and paid for the ultimate price.
Sad to hear of the deaths of those escaping poverty and possible religious persecution even if the same religion but different tribe. They just wanted a better life and provide for their familes as we all want in our respective countries but the world's economy makes it almost if not unbearable to provide for our own citizens without taking in just a specified amount of new immigrants and refugees annually. Every country has the right to accept, screen, and keep those they think can fit in and be productive and kick out any that have no skills, sick or contagious, and of course terrorists or criminals if that information is available which it probably isn't. They can be sent back at Aussie expense most likely but will be cheaper than keeping those that arrive illegally. The times of illegal immigration is almost over and needs to be controlled or we all face a problem of lifestyle changes for the worse in pay, benefits, and medical services etc....sorry to be so blunt or sound uncaring which I'm not but it is hard enough to provide for our own citizens without trying to protect and provide for the world. Let each nation take care of their own and goodwill in charities assist when and where able.
Oh thank goodness they did not arrive safely. I bet they be having a drink with Osama bout now.