Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Child refugees in Nauru camp struggle to eat, drink, talk - MSF

Published 11/10/2018, 05:24 pm
Updated 11/10/2018, 05:30 pm
© Reuters.  Child refugees in Nauru camp struggle to eat, drink, talk - MSF

© Reuters. Child refugees in Nauru camp struggle to eat, drink, talk - MSF

* Some children on Nauru in a semi-comatose state - MSF

* Camp conditions criticized by United Nations, rights groups

* Govt says policy prevents refugee drownings, protects borders

By Colin Packham

SYDNEY, Oct 11 (Reuters) - The mental health of refugees detained by Australia on the Pacific island of Nauru has deteriorated so badly that some children are in a "semi-comatose state", unable to eat, drink or talk, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said on Thursday.

Nauru is one of two Pacific nations where Australia detains hundreds of asylum seekers intercepted while trying to reach the country by boat, a policy widely criticised by the United Nations and rights groups.

MSF, one of the few groups to independently assess refugees at the restricted facilities, provided mental health care to asylum seekers and Nauru residents until the Pacific nation cancelled its contract on Oct. 5.

"During our time on the island, we witnessed a significant deterioration of mental health among our asylum seeker and refugee patients," Paul McPhun, executive director of the medical aid group, told reporters in Sydney.

Children are among those affected by mental heath issues, he said, although he did not give a specific number.

"Many children exist in a semi-comatose state, unable to eat, drink and talk," said McPhun, adding that some children required intravenous fluid drips.

Representatives for the government of Nauru and Australia's Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, who oversees the policy, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Dutton told reporters on Wednesday he would like to resettle the Nauru refugees in Australia, but that would encourage other asylum seekers to attempt the dangerous journey by boat.

Conditions in the Nauru camp, and another facility on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island, have been criticised by the United Nations and human rights groups. said the decline in mental health among refugees on Nauru was "clearly attributable" to their indefinite detention.

"Shockingly, of the refugees we have treated, at least 78 have attempted suicide, had suicidal thoughts and attempted self-harm," he said.

FACES CAMPAIGN

Australia's centre-right government, which faces an election in 2019, has largely won favour with voters for a policy it says prevents drownings at sea and maintains the integrity of the country's borders. Critics are trying to sway public opinion.

A social media campaign started this week by Simon Holmes à Court aimed to raise A$50,000 ($35,385) to project faces of refugee children onto the Sydney Opera House.

The campaign raised nearly the entire amount in less than a day, organizers said.

Australia has stopped publishing data on the number of refugees held in both centres. Refugee advocates estimate 600 people are detained on Manus Island, and a further 500 on Nauru.

MSF said it expected the humanitarian crisis to get worse as a refugee swap deal with the United States drags on. The U.S. government said in 2016 it would accept up to 1,250 refugees but fewer than 500 have been resettled. = 1.4130 Australian dollars)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.