Doctors Without Borders: The Mental Health of Refugee Children in Nauru is Very Critical

On Thursday, October 11, Doctors Without Borders emphasized the 'critical' and dangerous mental health status of refugees, especially children, in the Nauru detention center, urging the Australian government to remove them from this facility. According to the report by Doctors Without Borders, the mental health of refugees held by Australia in the Nauru island detention center is so severe that some children are close to a coma and have difficulties eating, drinking, and even speaking. Doctors Without Borders is one of several groups that have independently assessed the status of refugees in the Nauru detention center and provided mental health care to them, but Nauruan officials canceled the organization's contract on October 5, last week. Paul McPhun, the executive director of Doctors Without Borders, told reporters in Sydney, 'During our time on the island, we witnessed a severe regression in the mental health of refugees, including children, to the extent that some of them are unable to eat, drink, or speak and require intravenous fluids.' According to Australia's strict immigration policy, refugees attempting to reach Australia are detained and sent to three camps in Papua New Guinea or a camp on Nauru island. More than a thousand men, women, and children, many of whom are said to be Iranian, live in the camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru, and they have been told that they will never have the right to reside in Australia. Paul McPhun pointed out that the worsening mental health of these refugees is 'clearly' related to the indefinite duration of their detention. He also stated, 'Among the refugees we treated, at least 78 have either committed suicide or are contemplating suicide or self-harm.' Peter Dutton, the Australian Minister for Home Affairs, did not respond to the latest news from Doctors Without Borders but stated a day earlier that he is interested in relocating these refugees, although such an action would encourage many others to undertake dangerous boat journeys and illegally enter Australian waters. Peter Dutton also mentioned in May that hundreds of refugees may remain indefinitely in the camps as no other country is willing to accept them. Australia has previously attempted to reach an agreement with the Iranian authorities for the return of Iranian refugees whose asylum requests have been rejected, but refugee lawyers say Iran refuses to accept rejected refugees who are expelled against their will from other countries. Human rights defenders have repeatedly expressed concern about civil rights conditions on the island, and protests against the Australian government's treatment of refugees have been held multiple times in Australia.