The United Nations refugee agency said the beating of asylum seekers was "shocking and inexcusable"
ADVERTISEMENTThe United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, has denounced the use of force to remove refugees and asylum seekers from a centre on Manus Island.
Papua New Guinean police cleared the remmmaining asylum-seekers from the shuttered Australian-run detention complex
on Friday.
The move ended a three-week protest which started with some 600 people surviving on rain water and smuggled food and
supplies.
Statement: Immediate action is needed to avert further harm and tragedy on #Manus Island. https://t.co/BStcgHP9YS
UNHCRCanberra</a></p>— UN Refugee Agency (Refugees) November 24, 2017
Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull hailed the operation as a success: “Now I am pleased to say in terms of Manus that the reports we have are that busloads of the people at Manus are leaving, they are complying with the lawful directions of the PNG (Papua New Guinea) authorities and moving to the alternative facilities available to them and that’s as they should.”
However, human rights groups say several refugees were “severely injured” in the raid and needed medical treatment. They have also warned that there is a “grave risk” of the situation on the island deteriorating further.