Fiji has 17 declared refugees in the country

Fiji does not have an open door policy for those who wish to come to our shores as refugees or asylum seekers.

This has been confirmed by the Director of Immigration Nemani Vuniwaqa who said Fiji has a total of 17 declared refugees in the country.

Vuniwaqa said the government needs to put in place policies on how they can accommodate or facilitate asylum seekers or refugees and how they can be helped medically and educationally.

He said these policies are important as it will help the country move forward and if they do not abide by the convention and protocol 1967 they will be seen as a nation who does not recognize human rights issues.

Vuniwaqa added that these refugees in Fiji arrived by plane and are from Afghanistan, Ghana, Somalia, Nigeria and Pakistan.

He added that Fiji has been processing asylum seekers since 2006 and these asylum seekers can only be under the refugee identity if their claims are validated and clarified.