Papua New Guinea’s refugee situation after Australian funding runs out

29-10-2023

Yasemin Beyza Uçar

South and East Asia Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

If the Australian government fails to continue funding PNG’s humanitarian program, refugees who were exiled to Papua New Guinea will be sent back to Australia. Stanis Hulahau, Papua New Guinea’s chief migration officer, mentioned that Australia abandoned the refugees and millions of dollars are owed to the PNG businesses that are providing housing and caring for the refugees.  The chief migration officer said that if Australia wants the refugees to stay in Papua New Guinea, then Australia needs to continue funding the program. If they do not continue, Hulahau stated that he would send the refugees back to Australia (Rebecca Kuku, Ben Doherty and Paul Karp).

Port Moresby’s Pacific International Hospital stated recently that around 40 million dollars are owed to them, and other smaller service providers, such as security firms and motels, are owed approximately 8 million dollars each of them. Currently, around 70 refugees and asylum seekers who were forced to go to PNG remain in the country, but most of them were told that they might face eviction as the bills have not been paid for almost a year now (Rebecca Kuku, Ben Doherty and Paul Karp).

Now, the country’s migration chief stated that the leftover refugees in PNG will leave within weeks and the majority will be sent to New Zealand. Special measures in Australia will be taken for those refugees with acute physical and mental health problems. The situation is getting more and more severe after the shutdown of Australia’s illegal offshore detention centre on Manus Island, and the urgency to resolve it is rising. The money that was provided after the closure of Australia’s illegal offshore detention centre ran out, which affected the refugees in terms of health services (Ben Doherty). 

These refugees are highlighting that the lack of information regarding their situation is cruel and confusing. Many questions arise but stay unresolved (Daisy Dumas).

Some refugees who wish to stay anonymous stated that they have been in Papua New Guinea for a decade and that they do not understand why they are being treated in such a manner, causing stress and confusion (Daisy Dumas).

Sources and further readings:

Rebecca Kuku, Ben Doherty and Paul Karp. (2023, October 7). PNG threatens to send refugees back to Australia unless it keeps funding humanitarian program. The Guardian. Retrieved October 29, 2023, from PNG threatens to send refugees back to Australia unless it keeps funding humanitarian program | Australian immigration and asylum | The Guardian

Ben Doherty. (2023, October 23). Last refugees in Papua New Guinea to begin leaving ‘within weeks’ after Australian funding runs out. The Guardian. Retrieved November 1, 2023, from Last refugees in Papua New Guinea to begin leaving ‘within weeks’ after Australian funding runs out | Australian immigration and asylum | The Guardian

Daisy Dumas. (2023, October 24). ‘Unjust and cruel’ lack of clarity still hangs over 64 refugees exiled in PNG. The Guardian. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from ‘Unjust and cruel’ lack of clarity still hangs over 64 refugees exiled in PNG | Australian immigration and asylum | The Guardian