On Nauru, an island in the Pacific where over 160 asylum seekers have been sent by Australia since its offshore processing regime restarted in 2023, many are struggling to survive on meager stipends and facing unbearable living costs. The Australian government's policy prohibits these individuals from working, forcing them to rely on a weekly allowance of $115 to buy food and supplies.
The harsh reality is that the money does not go far. As one asylum seeker revealed, "the $230 per fortnight allowance cannot survive on because everything is expensive here - rice, fish, we cannot buy any fruit here, internet for $100 per month. How is it possible to survive?" A bag of grapes costs $20 on Nauru, while a quarter-sliced watermelon can be purchased for $24. Small boxes of cereal retail for $15.
With the rising cost of living, many have taken to working unlawfully at petrol stations and construction sites to supplement their stipends and cover essential expenses. However, this comes with a risk of being caught by authorities and facing severe consequences, including loss of living expenses or even deportation.
The situation is dire, with some asylum seekers reporting that they are going hungry due to the lack of affordable food options. One individual stated that they were unable to afford more than two meals a day and had to skip breakfast to make ends meet. "Day by day I lose weight and my health condition is not good," they said.
The Nauru government's stance on asylum seekers is seen as punitive, with one man telling Guardian Australia that the latest notice has ramped up pressure on an already vulnerable group. "No one here cares about us, our mental health, our ... difficulties which we going through here," he stated.
Asylum seekers fear being forcibly deported to countries where they have faced persecution and violence, including those from which they fled in the first place. For many, finding safety is a pressing concern, with one individual stating, "I have a family. If I die, my family [will] also die with me. Please help me find safety."
Advocates argue that asylum seekers should be allowed to work and receive fair compensation for their living expenses, citing the non-refoulement obligation imposed by the refugees convention, which prohibits states from returning refugees to places where they are at risk of irreparable harm.
In conclusion, the situation on Nauru is unacceptable, with many asylum seekers struggling to survive due to Australia's policies. The government must reassess its stance and provide a more humane approach to supporting these vulnerable individuals.
The harsh reality is that the money does not go far. As one asylum seeker revealed, "the $230 per fortnight allowance cannot survive on because everything is expensive here - rice, fish, we cannot buy any fruit here, internet for $100 per month. How is it possible to survive?" A bag of grapes costs $20 on Nauru, while a quarter-sliced watermelon can be purchased for $24. Small boxes of cereal retail for $15.
With the rising cost of living, many have taken to working unlawfully at petrol stations and construction sites to supplement their stipends and cover essential expenses. However, this comes with a risk of being caught by authorities and facing severe consequences, including loss of living expenses or even deportation.
The situation is dire, with some asylum seekers reporting that they are going hungry due to the lack of affordable food options. One individual stated that they were unable to afford more than two meals a day and had to skip breakfast to make ends meet. "Day by day I lose weight and my health condition is not good," they said.
The Nauru government's stance on asylum seekers is seen as punitive, with one man telling Guardian Australia that the latest notice has ramped up pressure on an already vulnerable group. "No one here cares about us, our mental health, our ... difficulties which we going through here," he stated.
Asylum seekers fear being forcibly deported to countries where they have faced persecution and violence, including those from which they fled in the first place. For many, finding safety is a pressing concern, with one individual stating, "I have a family. If I die, my family [will] also die with me. Please help me find safety."
Advocates argue that asylum seekers should be allowed to work and receive fair compensation for their living expenses, citing the non-refoulement obligation imposed by the refugees convention, which prohibits states from returning refugees to places where they are at risk of irreparable harm.
In conclusion, the situation on Nauru is unacceptable, with many asylum seekers struggling to survive due to Australia's policies. The government must reassess its stance and provide a more humane approach to supporting these vulnerable individuals.
they're literally living in poverty over there $115 a week is not gonna cut it when rice costs $20 
and watermelon slices are $24 lol what's the point of even having an allowance if you can't afford the basics? 
i mean, can't we just provide a safe haven for ppl who are fleeing persecution and violence? it's not too much to ask, right?! 
... I mean, $115 a week isn't exactly going to cut it for anyone, let alone asylum seekers who are already dealing with trauma and uncertainty. The fact that they're forced to go hungry and can't even afford basic necessities like internet is just awful 
.
... I mean, I get it, they need to survive, but there has to be a better way. The Nauru government's stance on asylum seekers is just so punitive and heartless 
.
They've been fleeing persecution and violence for God's sake! They deserve our compassion and understanding, not our wrath. And yeah, I know it's easy to say "just work and earn your own money" but trust me, it's not that simple 
.
... maybe if more people knew about it, we could start to build some pressure for change? 
. It's like they're being left to rot over there 
. $115 a week is basically nothing, and you can't even get fresh food 
. They have to rely on these tiny cereal boxes for breakfast 
. And don't even get me started on the internet prices 
- that's just cruel 
.
! These people are fleeing war and persecution and now they're stuck in this nightmare 
. The authorities need to step up their game and provide some real support 
. They deserve better than this 
. We need to do some serious thinking here... 
$115 per week for food?!?! It's like they're expecting them to live off fairy dust 
. I mean, come on, $230 a fortnight just doesn't cut it when everything costs so much. And now people are resorting to working on the black market because they can't afford even basic necessities 
. It's like, what's the point of sending them there if you're not gonna support them properly? 
. We need to raise awareness about this issue and make sure our governments are taking it seriously 
.
.
like 230 bucks a fortnight ain't even enough for basic stuff let alone eat decent food 
those prices on nauru r crazy $20 bag of grapes?!?! 
riskin bein caught & deported is real 
how can australia call itself a developed country when its treatin asylum seekers like this? 
.
. Asylum seekers have a right to seek safety and security, not be treated like second-class citizens 
. The non-refoulement obligation is clear, and yet the government is ignoring it left and right 
. It's time for some real change, and fast 
.
! $115 a week? Are they bloody joking? I mean, I know it's not cheap living on Nauru but come on, that's basically just enough to survive without having any quality of life. And you're telling me people are skipping meals because they can't afford food? That's heartbreaking 
it's like australia just wants to throw them out there and hope for the best... but what if they die because of it? 
who can afford that on top of barely scraping by? it's like australia is trying to trap them in this never-ending cycle of poverty. 
and what about mental health? how are they supposed to cope with all this stress and uncertainty? 
! I mean, $115 a week is basically nothing, especially when you're trying to survive in a place that's like 3x more expensive than Australia 
.
. Maybe it's not as simple as just giving them more money or allowing them to work, but something needs to be done ASAP 
. We can't just ignore the fact that these people are struggling to survive and facing dire consequences 
230 bucks in fortnightly allowance? That's like tryin' to buy groceries at Walmart on the last day of sale 
ppl are dyin' from hunger, literally can't afford more than 2 meals a day. They're workin' under the table just to survive, but that means riskin' deportation & losin' everything they got 
just to survive its crazy that they can't even afford basic food like fruit or cereal and have to rely on petrol stations for money their health is suffering big time people are losing weight and dealing with mental health issues it's so not fair that the gov is being so punitive on these ppl we need to help them out ASAP 
and losing their mental health due to the pressure. They deserve better 
. And to make matters worse, they can't even work legally, so they have to risk their own safety by doing odd jobs on the black market 
. We should be supporting these people, not making it harder for them to survive