Another man held by the Australian Government on Manus Island attempted suicide yesterday amidst an unprecedented medical crisis on Manus and Nauru. More than 50 incidents of attempted suicide and self-harm have been reported among the refugees on Manus and Nauru in the weeks since Federal Election.

Katie Robertson, a Legal Director with the Human Rights Law Centre said the Morrison Government must act now to ensure refugees’ safety.    

“The men and women on Manus and Nauru deserve to be treated with decency and respect. They deserve a chance to rebuild their lives in freedom and safety. Instead, our government continues to imprison them indefinitely on remote islands in cruel and degrading conditions. And now, after six long years, we are seeing an increasingly dangerous situation unfolding in which men and women in the Australian Government’s care are losing all hope.”

Over 400 refugees remain in PNG and over 300 on Nauru. The PNG Government recently deployed paramilitary police with a reputation for brutal tactics to a refugee camp on Manus in order to reduce suicide attempts.

“Deploying the paramilitary to address a medical emergency on Manus is dangerous and deplorable; the situation is utterly unsustainable. It is the Australian Government’s legal and moral responsibility to look after these men and women that remain trapped in limbo offshore,” said Ms Robertson.

“For six years the Australian Government has been playing politics with the lives of innocent people in our care on Nauru and Manus. After so much suffering, the Morrison Government must act now to bring these refugees in our care to safety,” added Ms Robertson.

Media contact:

Michelle Bennett, Communications Director: 0419 100 519