My name is Khan. I have been on Nauru for 4 years. Did you see the news this week? Journalists have exposed the cases of myself and my brothers and sisters detained on Nauru who are sick and can’t get the medical care we need. I have a complex condition that causes me to lose
Read moreIt was a perfect, crisp Sunday morning, with the sun beaming down on the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 15 October as the Run 4 Refugees team gathered together with 32, 000 other people, ready to take part in the Melbourne Marathon. Now in it’s 10th year, Run 4 Refugees originally started as a run for
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The media spotlight on Australian bureaucrats overruling the decisions of medical doctors is shocking.
Yesterday’s accounts exposed by Buzzfeed and ABC 7:30 report are from the most senior medical doctor on Nauru and clearly show that the abuse of people in need of medical treatment is happening with impunity and indifference by our own government’s officials.
Dr Nick Martin was in the role of Senior Medical Officer on Nauru from November 2016 to August 2017.
Having worked in some of the toughest places in the world over 16 years as a doctor with the British Navy, he has been so shocked and traumatised by his time on Nauru that he has spoken out at great personal risk.
This is a highly ethical doctor living up to his professional obligations, and a brave Australian.
Even after several deaths on both Nauru and Manus as a result of lack of timely medical care, and several inquests, it is clear that the Australian government continues to brazenly place people’s lives at risk for political gain.
ASRC Detention Advocacy Manager Natasha Blucher said: ‘I deal daily with people’s complete despair at the inability to access treatment for conditions that in some cases are life threatening, and in other cases cause immense pain, fear and humiliation.’
‘The lack of urgent medical treatment, as well as being extremely dangerous to life and health, causes serious mental health deterioration and places people at risk of suicide due to chronic pain and lost hope,’ Natasha said.
‘This has gone on for too long away from the Australian community’s eyes. The government and the opposition cannot continue to ignore the humanitarian crisis unfolding in our offshore detention facilities.’
‘Everyone who needs treatment must be medically evacuated and brought to Australia now,’ Natasha said.
Photo by Dan Kitwood
The Rohingya people are been forced out of their home country of Myanmar in a ruthless ‘ethnic cleansing’ campaign by the state’s army.
The Muslim-minority ethnic group has for decades been denied citizenship and access to government services as well as other forms of socio-political and economic discrimination in the Buddhist majority state.
As of October 21, an estimated 603,000 people have fled violence and persecution from Rakhine State to East Bangladesh in one of the fastest refugee crises in the world.
The influx of Rohingya refugees has led to an international humanitarian crisis with men, women and children lacking critical access to shelter, food and sanitation.
Women and girls in particular have borne the brunt of a devastating human cost, with reported cases of rape, human trafficking, assault and trauma.
ASRC stands with the Rohingya communities seeking protection and asylum and for an immediate end to the genocide.
Although the Australian government has pledged $30 million to address the humanitarian needs, we call upon Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to show regional leadership:
Contact Julie Bishop today with the above requests and your personal message:
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