Pacific

Catholic church wants Christmas gift for Manus refugees

11:40 am on 2 November 2018

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands has called for Manus Island refugees to be resettled in other countries as a Christmas gift.

Photo: supplied

The conference along with the Catholic Professionals Society hosted a panel discussion in Port Moresby yesterday about the refugees' plight.

The panel included the governor of the National Capital District, Powes Parkop, and Kurdish refugee Benham Satah.

The secretary of the conference, Ambrose Pereira, said Papua New Guinea is not able to care for the refugees.

Father Pereira said the PNG government must pressure Australia to resettle about 650 men it has exiled to Manus.

"We are hoping for an end to this refugee situation where all will be sent into Australia or to any other country. But it needs to be Australia's responsibility to ensure that this happens."