Charities out of money for destitute PNG refugees as Labor drags feet on restoring aid

MEDIA RELEASE:

Charities that have been keeping PNG refugees and their families alive since humanitarian support was cut off by the Australian Government in November 2023, say lives are at risk unless Labor stops dragging its feet on restoring aid and evacuating people to safety.

In the past nine months, charities, individuals and refugee advocacy groups have provided life-saving support to 47 men, 20 partners and 36 children in Port Moresby, who were abandoned and left to starve when PNG humanitarian services ceased support due to alleged non-payment of bills by the Australian Government. Donations have now dried up, forcing charities to make the gut-wrenching decision to stop providing financial support to the group by mid September.

The Australian Government announced in early July it would work with the PNG Government to reinstate support to the at-risk cohort, many who are extremely unwell, but it has given no indication of what the support will involve and when it will restart. Charities and humanitarian organisations working closely with the PNG men and their families, say the situation is now beyond critical and that lives will be lost unless the Australian Government urgently steps up to its responsibilities.

The 47 men were forced to Manus Island after seeking safety in Australia 11 years ago, and are now left living in limbo in Port Moresby, suffering the compounding impacts of years of trauma, medical neglect, violence and abuse, poor nutrition and substandard living. A recent health report by the ASRC confirmed that 100 % of the refugees still held in PNG suffer from some form of physical health conditions and 40 % suffer chronic suicidal ideation and a history of suicide attempts.

The only lifeline for the remaining refugees and their families, if the Australian Government refuses to reinstate support and evacuate people to safety, is resettlement to New Zealand, US and Canada. However, resettlement to-date has been slow with some people left waiting several years. Many refugees are now becoming too unwell to engage further in the resettlement process.

Quotes attributable to:

Sister Jane Keogh, long-time friend and supporter of the refugees in PNG through the Brigidine Sisters
“For 9 months, since the Australian Government left people and their families destitute and cut off from food, electricity and transport, charities have kept alive 56 men, 20 partners and their 36 children. The people we have supported are severely weak, distressed, mentally unwell and succumbing to the trauma they have experienced over the past 11 years on Australia’s watch.

“Donations have dried up and we now have no way of continuing to provide this support. The Australian Government must wake up to the seriousness of this situation and take responsibility for this crisis it has created, and immediately reinstate support to people held in Port Moresby.”

Jana Favero, Director of Systemic Change at the ASRC
“The harm inflicted on people who sought safety on our shores 11 years ago by sending them to Manus Island is well documented. Not only have successive governments kept people in a place we know is making them sick, 9 months ago the Albanese Government cut off access to basic support such as access to health care and food for refugees in PNG. This has forced refugee families into poverty and destitution. Successive governments have failed them every step of the way.

“We welcomed news that funding would be reinstated by the Australian Government after significant pressure from the community, but there’s been no information as to what this will cover, who it will be paid to and when it will start. This uncertainty prolongs the suffering for those still trapped in PNG. We can no longer turn our back on refugees in PNG and must act urgently to evacuate them and their families to Australia for medical care and adequate support.”

Heidi Abdel-Raouf, ASRC detention advocacy caseworker for PNG:
“Charities and refugee advocacy groups have done an extraordinary job of keeping the refugees and their families in PNG alive during this avoidable health and humanitarian crisis. The risks of starvation, further health and mental health deterioration and loss of life are now even greater.

“After 11 years of unimaginable cruelty, pain and anguish, the refugees simply cannot bear yet another impossible challenge that they have no control over. The Albanese government can and must fix this problem quickly to avoid an Australian-made human catastrophe on PNG soil.”

-ENDS-