More refugees reportedly leave Nauru for US

The US has reportedly accepted another 23 refugees from the Nauru processing centre.

The Government of Nauru has blocked the medical evacuation of a refugee needing urgent treatment for depression and trauma-related condition.

The Government of Nauru has blocked the medical evacuation of a refugee needing urgent treatment for depression and trauma-related condition. Source: AAP

Another 23 refugees left Nauru bound for the US on Sunday, according to the Refugee Action Coalition.

The group said the cohort included two Rohingya families - a couple with their three children and a father and his two sons.

The rest are Rohingya, Afghan, Pakistani and Tamil single men.

SBS News has contacted the Department of Home Affairs to confirm the number but has not received a reply.

While well over 300 people have now been transferred to the US under the deal with Australia, more than 1,520 people remain in offshore detention on Manus Island and Nauru.

Thousands of people marched in rallies across Australia over the weekend to mark the fifth anniversary of offshore processing, which began under the Rudd government.

The offshore policy is designed to deter people embarking on treacherous sea journeys, but the United Nations and other rights groups have criticised the camps' conditions and long detention periods.


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