Exclusive: Asylum seeker hospitalised after hunger strike

Palestinian asylum seeker who staged an 18 day hunger strike in protest of the conditions on Nauru has spoken to SBS from his hospital bed.

Nauru

Supplied image of tent accommodation at the federal government's offshore detention centre in Nauru, Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. (AAP Image/Department of Immigration)

Speaking exclusively to SBS, Hussein Al Masri called for help from his Queensland hospital room.

With the assistance of an interpreter, the 18-year-old described Nauru - his home for the past 16 months - as “very dangerous” and said the situation in the camp was no good.

“I want to stay in Australia,” he said.

Listen: Hussein Al Masri speaks to Stephanie Anderson.



Mr Al Masri said the hospital staff were treating him well, but he was scared and couldn’t sleep at night.

He said he had thought about suicide due to his fear and insomnia.

“At night, I want to go to bed, sleeping but no can sleep,” he said.

“… Kill myself because no can sleeping.”

An Australian-based member of his family said his home in Gaza had been destroyed in the recent conflict and his parents had been forced to stay in a nearby school.

The relative, speaking on the condition that her identity remained confidential, said she held grave concerns for Mr Al Masri and his health.

She said his mental health had deteriorated since his transfer.

“He stopped eating for about 18 days and he lost 22 kilos,” she said.

“…He’s thinking about suicide if he goes back to detention. He’s really depressed and really didn’t want to go back there.”

She said Mr Al Masri, who had travelled to Australia by boat, has no safe home to return to.

“He left Gaza and we know the conditions in Gaza,” she said.

“We’re just concerned if he’s going to go back to Gaza – it’s not safe to go back there. His family is really, really concerned back home as well."

Questions have been put to the Immigration Minister.

Nauru staff speak out on conditions

His plea for assistance follows reports detailing conditions in the Nauru detention facility, described as cramped and unsanitary.

A 53-page document released by Save the Children Australia employees  alleges cramped living quarters, with 12 to 15 families forced into one tent - despite average temperatures of 31 degrees.

“The size of the room is extremely cramped and people are allotted one square metre of living space per person,” it reads.

“The cramped quarters have no air conditioning or walls. They are merely separated from their neighbours by a partition of fabric.”

Hygiene was also highlighted, alleging blocked toilets spilling faeces onto floors and the provision of only two toilets for approximately 200 children.

“There are outbreaks of lice, gastroenteritis and school sores,” it read.

“Furthermore, children are subject to toilets lacking in basic sanitation.”

It also alleges that a pastor scheduled to conduct Easter services was denied entry as his thongs were deemed as “unsafe” footwear, despite the majority of children only having thongs to wear.

The documents also detail allegations of sexual, physical and verbal assaults of asylum seeker children by Nauru detention centre staff.

The documents were lodged as part of the Australian Human Rights Commission's inquiry into children in immigration detention.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison is due to face the inquiry this week.


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By Stephanie Anderson


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