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An Australian charity is calling on international governments to do more to help 400,000 seafarers, including Pacific Islanders who are stranded because of border closures and COVID-19 restrictions.
Reverend Garry Dodd of the Seafarers Mission to Australia said the festive season has been tough as many of those stranded still don t know when they ll return home, to loved ones.
International border closures mean that seafarers including many from the Pacific have been at sea for well beyond their 10-month contract.
Reverend Dodd said governments have the power to ease the suffering faced by seafarers. It s not impossible but it is hard and its costly. If there was political will there wouldn t be 400,000 seafarers who are currently stranded, he said.