UNHCR Statement

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is profoundly saddened by the death of a refugee in East Lorengau, Papua New Guinea, today.

Once again, such tragedy highlights the acute vulnerability of refugees and asylum-seekers under Australia’s “offshore processing” approach, and the need for proper care. UNHCR has long urged that the planned closure of the Manus Island ‘Regional Processing Centre’ must only take place in the context of continued critical services, and in line with Australia’s ongoing responsibility for the refugees and asylum-seekers it has transferred to Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

UNHCR is continuing to seek further information from the Governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea respectively.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
In Canberra, Ella Fisher, [email protected]

UNHCR Regional Representation in Canberra
UNHCR’s Regional Representation is based in Canberra, and is responsible for the promotion and protection of refugee rights in Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.