PNG refugees homeless by Christmas

This article was first published in The Melbourne Anglican on 21 November 2024.

Forty-two refugees face starvation and homelessness after being left in Papua New Guinea under Australian offshore processing deals. 

Australian government support ended a year ago after over a decade of detention, which left the men and their families destitute. 

An allowance was reinstated following pressure from Australian non-government organisations, but the refugees must manage their own accommodation, food and medical expenses. 

PNG Catholic Bishops Conference migrants and refugees desk director Jason Siwat said the allowance was not sufficient. 

“It will be a ticket to significant breakdown and poverty,” Mr Siwat said.   

“They’re stopping our food, our medical, how are we to survive?” said father of two Arif Khan. 

Mr Khan fled Pakistan over a decade ago. His family joined him in July 2023. “My daughter was too young to remember me, but now she’s taller than me!” Mr Khan said. 

Mr Khan was concerned for his daughter’s mental wellbeing but also her personal safety with the risk of human trafficking in Port Moresby.  

“I’m a family man…How can I live in unsafe places?” Mr Khan said. “We want to be a normal family, go to work, go to school.” 

Refugee Council of Australia chief executive Paul Power said they were pleased Australia was reinstating assistance, but it was challenging to assess what was reasonable. 

Two major concerns were the cost of independent housing but also the lack of security associated with living independently, Mr Power said. 

Australian Refugee Action Network convenor Marie Hapke said the mental health situation of most of the refugees meant they will struggle to organise their own accommodation. 

If the accommodation fell through, “there’s no comeback,” Ms Hapke said. “They are very vulnerable to being exploited by locals.”  

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre deputy chief executive Jana Favero said the impossible conditions placed on the men and their families made them at risk of homelessness by Christmas.  

“It is still not a permanent solution,” she said. “The only thing that will alleviate the suffering…is being evacuated to Australia.” 

Ms Favero said that the refugees have suffered incredible mental and physical health conditions from being trapped offshore for over a decade. 

She said the trauma of offshore processing was well-known and this was compounded by ten years of inadequate healthcare where minor health issues became major because of lack of treatment. 

“There have been over 14 deaths, a lot of which could have been avoided with early medical intervention,” she said.  

The well-being of families was impacted by having to pay for expensive medical treatment and accommodation. “They’re just being punished yet again,” Ms Favero said. 

Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke has been approached for comment. 

Image: iStock

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