Sydney, Australia (CNN) -- Some 100 probable asylum seekers have died in the past few weeks off Australian shores. But there's no way of knowing exact numbers because the vessels on which these people perish don't carry passenger logs. Still, the boats keep sailing to Australia with desperate people believing that after a period of incarceration they'll begin new lives. Safe lives. And still, there appears to be no end in sight to the political stalemate between the ruling Labor government and its coalition opponents on how to stop the boats and the people smuggling trade that parlays human misery into cold hard cash.
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Hundreds of potential asylum seekers risk lives trying to reach Australian territory by boat
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Many are feeling poverty and repression in countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan
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With detention facilities full, Australian citizens are being asked to house some cases
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Ali, 21, from Afghanistan is being hosted by a family near Sydney until his case is heard
His 46-year-old mother and two brothers are marooned in Pakistan, themselves waiting for Ali's case to be determined, hoping for asylum in Pakistan or @placeholder.
Pakistan might allow his family to remain there but that's not of much comfort to @placeholder.