Photo credit: Aljazeera
Asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea will be stripped of government-provided housing and healthcare under a new deal that forces them to cover all living expenses with a single allowance.
ABC News reports that the asylum seekers were sent to PNG more than a decade ago under an offshore processing deal with Australia, which has since ended.
A prominent advocate has labelled the new agreement a “death sentence” and says he is worried it could drive the men into insecure or unsafe accommodation.
A fact sheet from the Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority says the asylum seekers will receive an 1800-kina fortnightly payment—or 900 kina each week, which equates to about $350 weekly.
The allowance will go towards living costs, “including accommodation, utilities, food and healthcare.”
Those with families may also receive “additional allowance support”, according to the document.
