Altercation brewing on Manus Is

HUNDREDS of asylum seekers on Manus Island will have to start cooking and cleaning for themselves within days as tensions escalate ahead of the detention centre being closed.

Asylum seekers have held protests and demanded to be able to stay at the “hellhole” regional processing centre.

About 500 asylum seekers have been informed by letter that they need to move to the East Lorengau transit centre because the regional processing centre will be closed on October 31.

More than 300 asylum seekers have refused to sign the letter, pointing to potential conflict in the coming days.

Services are winding down at the detention centre as buildings are demolished.

At the detention centre asylum seekers are provided all meals and necessities, such as fruit packs, hygiene needs, bus services to town, washing supplies and full health services.

They accrue points and use those points to buy things at a shopfront.

But at the East Lorengau they will have to buy what they need and cook their own food.

Those already found to be refugees will now get an allowance from the PNG government. Those who have not will not get any allowance.