The ASRC calls on leaders to #EvacuateNow after ninth person dies on Manus

A ninth person has died in our offshore detention camps today.

Police have confirmed that a man died overnight on Manus Island, reportedly by suicide, and after being in desperate need of medical help for a long time.

The US deal has freed 54 people so far, while 2000 people remain unsafe and in life threatening threatening conditions.

People cannot stay on Manus and Nauru another day. We are risking more lives lost with every day that passes.

The ASRC calls on the Turnbull Government and the Opposition to evacuate the camps now and bring everyone to safety.

ASRC Detention Advocacy Manager, Natasha Blucher said, ‘People cannot stay a single day longer on Manus Island or Nauru. Today we have yet another grieving family, another young man lost forever.’

‘After four long years of torture, conditions remain inadequate for the basic safety of men, women and children, as clearly demonstrated by this ninth person to perish offshore, on our watch.’

‘I speak regularly with people on Nauru and Manus Island. With every day that passes, I dread another death. People are not safe.’

‘The offshore camps are in crisis. The public needs to understand this basic truth, and our leaders must stop denying it, because people are dying,’ Natasha said.

CEO Kon Karapanagiotidis was devastated at the news this morning. Kon said ‘We demand that all those in offshore camps are evacuated to Australia immediately.’

‘The government may wish to pursue arrangements with the US or other countries, but people cannot wait there for protection outcomes and must be brought here to safety in the meantime’, Kon said.