Refugees brought to Port Moresby on medical grounds will return to Manus after receiving necessary treatment, says the country’s acting Chief Migration officer, Solomon Kantha.
More than 90 refugees and asylum seekers have been transferred to Port Moresby since the dismantling of the Manus centre commenced. Some believe they will not return and be resettled in Port Moresby instead.
But Kantha said they were sent to Port Moresby for medical assistance.
“Given the pressure on the Lorengau Hospital, we are working to see how best their medical needs can be supported.
“No one from the medical transfers will be settled in Port Moresby or anywhere else. Only refugees with a visa and job placement can be considered for settlement,” he said.
The acting Chief Migration officer also cleared the air on the Bomana Immigration Transit Centre that is currently under construction.
“The site at Bomana is an Immigration Transit Centre built to support PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority. These are not houses for settlement,” he said.
(Bomana Immigration Centre)