Refugees give in to Australia’s payout deal

Dozens of asylum seekers held in a detention centre in Papua New Guinea have elected to accept cash from Australia to return to their home countries, officials and refugees said, the largest exodus from the South Pacific camp in four years.

Australia has ratcheted up efforts to clear the Manus Island detention centre of people who have twice had their refugee claims rejected, amid fears a deal for the United States to take refugees has fallen through.

Reports last month said asylum seekers were being repeatedly called to meet with Australian officials and pressured to take amounts of up to $25,000 (Dh91,817) to return to their home countries or face deportation.

Threat of deportation

As legal attempts to halt the threat of deportation stall, as many 29 men, all of whom have spent four years in detention, have elected to leave in the last few weeks, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters. A group of nine Nepalese men are expected to depart today.

One source said approximately 14 detainees have asked the International Organisation for Migration to facilitate their transfer home. Refugees on Manus Island said a further 15 have not used the IOM to return home.