The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says families sheltering in nations such as Lebanon and Jordan are struggling to find shelter, food, education and work, prompting them to risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is under fire for the slow processing of Syrian refugees. Credit:Andrew Meares Refugee settlement agencies in Australia that readied for an influx of Syrians, including renting homes and amassing staff, have reportedly been forced to put their plans on hold. But a spokesman for Mr Dutton said the government is conducting rigorous security and other checks that cannot be rushed. At a Senate estimates hearing last week, immigration officials revealed just 26 Syrian refugees had arrived since the 12,000 intake was announced in September.

In contrast, official Canadian Government figures on Wednesday showed 20,490 Syrian refugees had landed in that country since November 4. A total of 25,000 are due to arrive by the end of February. A spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a government agency, said the nation was "getting refugees here as quickly as we can, and we're doing it in a way that is correct and appropriate and takes due concern for security, medical and other issues". This included in-depth family interviews, the collection of biographical information and biometrics such as fingerprints and digital photos, checked against databases. All refugees also underwent full medical examinations and criminal and security checks. Canada's progressive Trudeau government was reportedly forced to defend its refugee screening last month after it was scrutinised by a Republican-controlled United States Senate committee.

Asked why the Turnbull government was lagging so far behind Canada, a spokeswoman for Mr Dutton said his government "takes our national security extremely seriously". "Rigorous security checks are being conducted by Australian government agencies at a number of key points during visa processing, including the checking of biometric data," she said. "Processing time varies according to the circumstances of individual applicants … we will not rush this process and it will take whatever time it takes." Labor's immigration spokesman Richard Marles said appropriate health and security checks were needed but "this is a pitifully small number" of refugees. "The government made it pretty clear they would seek to relocate the people as quickly as possible. Mr Dutton needs to explain why the go-slow," he said.

Refugee Council of Australia chief executive Paul Power, who travelled to Lebanon in December to assess the refugee situation, said many were desperate. "The fact that Australia's offer is happening so slowly is certainly not helping an incredibly difficult situation," he said. Mr Power said refugee resettlement organisations in Australia had been left in the lurch after gearing up to deal with the emergency intake "[Some] are paying for ... on-arrival accommodation for refugees who were expected to arrive a month ago [or] are paying the wages of staff to greet people as they arrive," he said. One such organisation Fairfax Media spoke to confirmed they had been forced to find other uses for homes they rented for Syrian refugees.

Greens immigration spokeswoman Senator Sarah Hanson-Young accused the government of "trying to wriggle out of its commitment on the Syrian intake". "The experience in Canada shows us that this can be done fairly, efficiently and safely. I urge the Australian Government to get on with it and start to protect these men, women and children who simply want to integrate into our community and rebuild their lives," she said. Follow us on Twitter