The coronavirus hasn’t reached Nauru. But an outbreak could be disastrous.
. And for these men and one woman, there's an added worry, too: does anybody care if they live or die?
The caseworkers promised to take the questions to the Australian Border Force . But to date, the refugees have not received a clear answer. They have been told the same, familiar message: they will never be settled in Australia, and if they become sufficiently unwell they will be transferred to a third country for treatment.
International Health & Medical Services , which the Australian government contracts to provide medical services to the refugees on Nauru, will be responsible for the care of any refugees who contract COVID-19, a source on the island told BuzzFeed News. At one of the detention centres, IHMS recently installed a new demountable where any cases will be treated.Children in a car on Nauru ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum in September 2018.
As a result, there is less food on the island and prices are much higher. Fresh fruit and vegetables, always expensive because they are imported, are now completely out of reach for refugees receiving $200 a week in a government pension. A number of refugees on the island told BuzzFeed News a kilogram of onions now costs over $13 — up to 10 times the price in Australia. As well, basic items like flour and chicken are not available in stores.
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