Australian asylum seekers on Nauru face severe food shortages despite government spending

Food shortages persist for asylum seekers

A new survey by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) reveals that most refugees and asylum seekers in Nauru’s detention centers cannot afford enough food, despite the Australian government spending over $9 million per individual each year. The group of more than 100 people, who have been stranded on the tiny Pacific island for an average of two years, have reported skipping meals to make ends meet.

Insufficient funds and rising costs

The ASRC’s survey, conducted between February and April, found that all but one respondent stated that the $260 fortnightly allowance provided by the government was not enough for their basic needs. The minimum 28GB monthly data plan with Digicel, Australia's main internet provider, costs around $112, nearly 20% of the monthly stipend.

Struggling with high prices and shortages

Rakib, a 20-something-year-old asylum seeker from Bangladesh who has been on Nauru for over two years, describes his situation as dire. ‘I think it would be better if they kill us, or if we die,’ he says through a translator. ‘Because you know, like when you die, you get peace.’ The cost of basic food items such as tomatoes and capsicums has increased by up to three times their Australian prices. Additionally, the scarcity of affordable staples like rice poses a significant challenge.

Despite these issues, Rakib reports that people are trying to supplement their diet through fishing but face theft of their gear. ‘We bought a fishing net to try and supplement the food but our nets were stolen and broken three times,’ he explains. ‘We had put the net outside due to the smell, and local Nauruans came and stole it.’

Government response and human rights concerns

A home affairs spokesperson states that the allowance is reviewed regularly to ensure its adequacy based on the local cost of living and aims to promote self-sufficiency. However, critics argue that these measures are insufficient, as evidenced by the survey findings.

The ASRC’s deputy chief executive, Jana Favero, asserts that “the offshore detention system is completely broken” and fails to meet basic standards of safety and human dignity. She adds, “We know we are responsible and that this system destroys people's physical and mental health.”

Source: The Guardian