Child Refugees Released From Australia Were Attacked And Beaten in Nauru

Four unaccompanied child asylum seekers who were released to live in Nauru revealed they were beaten and threatened with death if they choose to remain on the island. The Guardian Australia reports that the four boys with ages between 15 and 17 were stopped by a group of men in Nauru as they were walking home one evening.

After the men asked who the boys were, they began swearing and said "all mother-fucker refugees, we will kill you. This is our country and no one can protect." The group threatened the boys that not even the Save the Children or the immigration department can save them. One of the young victims recounted how the men started hitting and kicking them while making threats.

According to the boy's statement, one of the boys had fallen unconscious while they were attacked. Two of the boys had fled to a nearby beach where they sought refuge behind a rock. The boys were able to use a mobile phone to call the staff of Save the Children who serves as caretakers of child refugees without parents.

After the call was made, Nauru police were alerted of the incident. The Save the Children staff had found the four boys and took them to the hospital. Reports said similar incidents against refugees in Nauru had escalated in the past few weeks. Victims of attacks were reportedly men and teenage boys.

Child refugees without parents have been released from Australian-run detention centres earlier in October to allow them to live in Nauru. The children were freed because of daily protests in the detention facilities and increasing instances of children harming themselves. The Australian government recognised the children as refugees. This means they cannot be sent back to their home country because they are at risk to persecution.

Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has transferred the guardianship of the children to the justice minister of Nauru when they left Australia. According to reports, the location of child refugees in Nauru is known in the community. Incidents of children being attacked while inside the house were allegedly reported. Some child refugees refused to go to school for fear of being assaulted.