By political reporter Stephanie Anderson and Sarah Farnsworth
A refugee remains in a critical condition after setting himself on fire on Nauru, in what the Nauruan Government has described as a “political protest”.
An immediate medical evacuation has been requested for the 23-year-old Iranian.
A video obtained by the ABC appears to show a man suffering burns to large portions of his body,after he set himself on fire outside the centre earlier today.
He is heard moaning.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said that Australia was planning to “provide an air lift for him later tonight”.
But Mr Dutton said the man remained in a “very serious condition”.
“He is in a very, very serious condition and his outlook is not good at all,” he said.
Mr Dutton also confirmed that there had been other incidents of self-harm at the centre.
“There have been other incidents where people have self-harmed or sought to self-harm,” he said.
“What we’ve been very clear about is that if people come to Australia for medical assistance they’ll be returning back to Nauru once that medical assistance has been provided.
“We have returned three people back to Nauru from Australia and they have returned because the medical assistance that they sought in Australia has been provided.”
UNHCR staff witnessed protest
The incident coincided with a visit from three Canberra-based UNHCR staff, who all witnessed the man’s actions.
The ABC understands the man is named Omid Saki and has been on Nauru for three years.
An Iranian woman witnessed the incident and told the ABC that Omid got distressed during a meeting with UNHCR staff.
“He got very angry and distressed and burnt himself,” she said.
“None of them helped. None of them called an ambulance, they just called the police and ran away.
“Doctors didn’t know what to do. They didn’t have supplies to help him.”
She said doctors have informed her that Omid suffered burns to 50 per cent of his body “and he might die”.
Influence of refugee advocates criticised
In a statement, the Nauruan Government said the man “set himself on fire, while making a political protest to coincide with the visit by representatives from UNHCR”.
The statement also cited the influence of the refugee community on Nauru, who they state are trying to influence the immigration policies of the Australian Government.
“The Government of Nauru continues to urge our refugee community to refrain from such protests for the protection of themselves and others,” it stated.
Mr Dutton made similar comments directed at refugee advocates, saying that the mixed messages to asylum seekers were “not helpful”.
“Nauru has invested considerable time and money into services to assist the refugee community socially, emotionally, medically and vocationally, and to ensure all refugees are safe in our country. There is no value in such behaviour.”
The incident follows a disturbance at the centre earlier this month, when chairs and tables were thrown at staff.
Two asylum seekers received medical treatment following the disturbance at the centre, which according to the latest update from Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection still held 468 people “under open centre arrangements”.
Asylum seeker advocates had also previously circulated photos of graffiti, they claim is from inside the centre, insulting Australian Border Force workers.
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
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Top Comments
"An Iranian woman witnessed the incident and told the ABC that Omid got distressed during a meeting with UNHCR staff.
“He got very angry and distressed and burnt himself,” she said.
“None of them helped. None of them called an ambulance, they just called the police and ran away."
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees staff ran away without helping.....well it seem the bar is set very very low at the unhcr, hope the blood on their hands doesn't wash off as easy as running away did!.
Absolutely, they were talking to him, they upset him and they failed to render any assistance to him....they ran away.... didn't even try to help him, cold heartless bastards. This is the kind of thing that happens when you sell false hope to those that desperately want to believe, it's cruel, regardless of any good intention.
They probably told him that years ago when they said we'll help you get to Australia hang in there, that they didn't really have that ability and never did.
Its not OK to walk past an injured person in the street without rendering assistance, its not OK to be having a conversation with a person and run away if they have a seizure, get hit by a bus or even set themselves on fire....I'm sure he didn't spontaneously combust....these atrocious people did not help this man, not before he lit the flames and not after as he screamed in pain. These unhcr staff were right there, the only people in a position to help and all of them 100% chose not too.....cold....heartless....bastards.
Are you an advocate for those who give refugees false hope of reaching Australia.... those who have absolutely no prospect or authority to achieve this outcome......those who have continued to float that false hope ignoring the clear message from both major political party's that those who come by sea will NOT be settled in Australia?, if so, you Sir, are complicit in the burning of this man.
Damn straight its false hope....the damage you and your ilk have done to these people is the greatest tragedy of all, had they been given the consistent message that Australia was off the table and instead been assisted with their needs in a positive way, the not so great system wouldn't have been bogged down with appeals and re-assessments, everybody would have been processed faster and the result would be EXACTLY the same, just without the additional misery false hope created.
Bipartisan support.