Nauru: Refugees' lives in danger with MSF forced to end mental healthcare activities

NAURU/SYDNEY: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) strongly condemns the government of Nauru’s sudden decision to cease MSF’s provision of desperately-needed mental health care to asylum seekers, refugees and the local community on Nauru.

MSF describes the mental health situation of refugees on the island as “beyond desperate” and calls for the immediate evacuation of all asylum seekers and refugees from the island, and for an end to the Australian offshore detention policy.

• Since November 2017, MSF has provided critically-needed mental health care to refugees – many of whom have attempted suicide – and the local Nauruan people
• The government of Nauru has told MSF our services are ‘no longer required’ and ordered us to leave within 24 hours
• MSF condemns in the strongest terms this decision and the Australian government’s policy of offshore detention of refugees

Read the full press release on our international website: https://www.msf.org/msf-slams-decision-ends-critically-needed-mental-healthcare-nauru