Asylum seekers could be among people rescued off Australian coast, UNHCR says

The United Nations refugee agency today said it was concerned that refugees and asylum seekers might be among the group of people recently rescued at sea off the coast of Australia.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) feels "these people should be accorded access to a thorough and careful examination of their claims in a fair and complete asylum procedure," said UN spokesman Manoel de Almeida e Silva at a press briefing in New York.

The agency also acknowledged that the situation involves "mixed questions" of international law, Mr. de Almeida e Silva said. He added that UNHCR has been urging the Governments of Australia, Norway and Indonesia to address the issues on a trilateral basis as soon as possible.

"UNHCR remains ready and available to assist the three countries in their common humanitarian endeavour to find solutions to the situation at hand," the spokesman said.