Asylum seekers protest on Manus Island yesterday. Photo: social media via ReutersThe United Nations human rights office called on Australia on Friday to restore food, water and health services to about 600 interned refugees and asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea, which Canberra cut off earlier this week. "We call on the Australian government ... who interned the men in the first place to immediately provide protection, food, water and other basic services," UN rights spokesman Rupert Colville told a news briefing. Australia has an obligation to do so under international human rights law and the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, he said. "But also we have urged Australia and PNG to de-escalate the situation, resume basic services - water, electricity, medical services as well," he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 03, 2017 21:22 UTC