Two Syrian asylum seekers refusing food in Manus Island detention centre

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/11/syrian-asylum-seekers-refusing-food-on-manus

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Two Syrian asylum seekers detained on Manus Island have refused meals for at least two weeks and are “noticeably gaunt and sickly looking”, with one suffering from a “major depressive disorder”, according to sources and leaked documents obtained by Guardian Australia.

There are currently five Syrian asylum seekers detained in the Manus Island offshore processing centre who were sent offshore by the previous Labor government just before the election in September.

In March, Guardian Australia revealed that two of these asylum seekers had been offered repatriation by the department, despite one raising fears of “certain death” if returned to war-torn Syria.

According to a Manus Island source with knowledge of both the cases, a “missed meals register” notes that neither have eaten for at least two weeks and are “on medication to raise their appetite”.

“They have shed an awful lot of weight,” the source said.

It is understood that one of those refusing meals was offered repatriation and was described in February as “not taking any responsibility for his own behaviour”, according to leaked meeting minutes.

The other is the subject of further leaked minutes of meetings from early February, which describe him as suffering a “major depressive disorder”.

According to the notes from February, the second Syrian “said that he no longer felt hungry but when he was offered rockmelon he was able to eat it because it reminded him of feeding his son”.

But the minutes continue: “When the reality set in that he would never be able to see his son ... he threw the rest of the food away.”

The minutes note that as of early February the asylum seeker was on a hunger strike. It is unclear if this hunger strike has remained consistent since then but the minute says the Syrian indicated a “wish to die by starvation”.

It continues that the man can barely sleep.

The Manus source said both Syrians had previously been detained in an isolation complex described as a “shipping container with no windows”. Since Transfield has taken over the running of the Manus Island centre, both Syrians have been moved to a more open compound, the source said.

It is understood that another Syrian detained on Manus Island has attempted suicide.

It is estimated that 6.5 million Syrians have been displaced as a result of the civil war, with over 2.5 million registered in neighbouring countries. The UNHCR predicts that by the end of 2014 over 1.5 million Syrian refugees will reside in Lebanon alone.

Australia agreed to take 500 Syrian refugees under a UNHCR crisis plan. These 500 form part of the annual refugee quota, which the government pledged to cut from 20,000 places a year to 13,750.

Guardian Australia has also obtained a letter written by all five Syrians dated 13 February.

“Australia always pretend that she is respect the human right but in fact this country doesn’t know anything about the mercifully and humanity,” it reads.

It continues: “We are treated unfair twice. The first was in Syria, the second in Australia … Please help us so we can help our families.”

Ian Rintoul, a spokesman for the Refugee Action Coalition, said the Syrians’ case underlined there was “no care offered on Manus Island”.

He said: “The whole regime is designed for punishment and welfare is at the bottom of the agenda. The idea that Syrians should ever have been expelled to Manus is an absolute disgrace.”

A spokeswoman for Scott Morrison, the immigration minister, said: “It is longstanding government practice not to confirm or comment on reports of any individual protest behaviour.

“Service providers deliver appropriate medical care to people in the facility.”