Last refugees in Papua New Guinea to begin leaving ‘within weeks’ after Australian funding runs out
Exclusive: Men left without healthcare and facing eviction, while local businesses are owned tens of millions of dollars
- Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
- Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast
The final group of refugees still held in Papua New Guinea a decade after being exiled there by Australia will begin leaving within weeks", the country's migration chief has committed, saying the majority will be resettled in New Zealand, while those suffering acute health problems will be brought to Australia for treatment.
There is an increased urgency to resolve the situations of the final cohort of refugees and asylum seekers left in PNG after the closure of Australia's illegal offshore detention centre on Manus Island. The Australian public money provided to PNG to care for the men following the closure of Australia's illegal offshore detention centre on Manus Island has run out, according to PNG officials, leaving the men without vital health services and facing eviction, while local businesses are owned tens of millions of dollars.
Continue reading...