Australian Border Force officials have revealed in Senate estimates that 11 children were flown out of detention on Nauru for medical treatment today.
Initial reports claimed that 16 children had been flown off the island but the ABF later gave a revised figure of 11 children. As reported by BuzzFeed, at least six children in detention were diagnosed with the rare psychological condition ‘resignation syndrome’ which presents as catatonic withdrawal in response to trauma. According to the ABF, the children were accompanied by their families.
It was also revealed in estimates today that the government has spent $480,000 in the last three months responding to court applications seeking emergency medical treatment for asylum seekers and refugees on Nauru.
In August, the Australian Medical Association passed three motions urging the government to remove children and families on Nauru from harm and to allow them access to adequate health care in the wake of a “looming children’s health crisis” on the island. In that same month, a 12-year-old detainee was hospitalised on Nauru after trying to set herself on fire. In July, a 26-year-old Iranian detainee died by suicide on the island.
A report from the Refugee Council of Australia published in September detailed children in detention as young 7 and 12 “experiencing repeated incidents of suicide attempts“. The United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR, has repeatedly called for the immediate shut down of Australia’s offshore detention camps, urging for detainees to be flown to Australia.
According to the ABC, there are 652 people still in detention on Nauru, 52 of whom are children.
