Refugee Action Coalition Media Release
Urgent surgery needed for brain-injured refugee on Nauru
A 28 year-old Rohingyan refugee injured in a motorbike accident on Nauru this morning around 7.00am has been unconscious in the RON hospital since yesterday afternoon (Saturday 18 November).
The accident between two motorbikes, happened on the Fly Camp Rd, the same road where a refugees was killed on 2 November.
It is understood that doctors believe the man needs an urgent surgery to deal with a clot or bleeding on his brain. He was vomiting blood and had bleeding from his right ear beefore he lasped into unconsciousness.
Other refugees on the island do not believe that Nauru is equipped to perform the brain surgery need, but no arrangements have been made for the man to be medivacced for urgent treatment.
People on the island are also concerned that the current dispute between Border Force and the Nauru government that has seen the Nauru government expel 107 Canstruct workers from the island in the last 24 hours has paralysed administration on the island and is delaying the decision to provide the urgent treatment he needs. The injured refugee is a Canstruct worker.
The dispute between Border Force and the Nauru government is over rent (believed to be over $3.5 million a year) that Border Force has been paying for space in the Menen Hotel (owned by the Nauruan government) for various activities.
“We have grave fears for the life of this refugee. He needs urgent surgery; any delay could be a matter of life and death,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“Border Force cannot shrug off its responsibility for this man’s welfare. We are calling on Peter Dutton to ensure that a money-squabble with Nauru is not going to cost this refugee his life.”
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