refugees face port moresby eviction

refugees face port moresby eviction

# Ex-Manus Island Detainees in PNG Face Eviction Crisis as Funding Support Ends (2025/03/06)

Summary

This collection of news articles from The Guardian and 9News Australia highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by former Manus Island detainees now stranded in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The main article reveals that over 40 asylum seekers who originally sought protection in Australia are currently threatened with eviction from their accommodation in Port Moresby due to unpaid rent totaling approximately A$110,000. These refugees, including families with children, face homelessness if the payment isn't made by the specified deadline.

Key Points

  • Current Crisis: Asylum seekers at Latitude apartments and East Boroko apartments in Port Moresby have received eviction notices demanding payment of accumulated rental arrears by March 13, 2024, or face eviction the following day.

  • Affected Population: Nearly 100 people remain stranded in PNG, including 44 men who sought asylum in Australia, along with 17 partners and more than 30 children.

  • Historical Context: These individuals were previously detained at Australia’s detention center on Manus Island before it was ruled unlawful by PNG’s supreme court in 2016. In 2021, the Morrison government created a support arrangement that was terminated in December 2021 after funding was depleted.

  • Deteriorating Conditions: Support services have been gradually reduced, with healthcare withdrawn and financial support cut. Families report being unable to afford education for their children and lacking access to medical care.

  • Government Response: The Australian Home Affairs Department claims it "does not have any role in the ongoing management of, or service delivery arrangements for, individuals remaining in PNG," stating it is a matter for the PNG government.

  • Advocacy Calls: The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) has called for immediate intervention to prevent homelessness, while the Greens immigration spokesperson criticized the government for abandoning asylum seekers.

The situation highlights ongoing tensions around Australia’s offshore detention policies and the fate of those who remain in limbo years after the official closure of processing facilities.

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