CANBERRA, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- A group of Australia's most senior doctors have offered to fly to the processing center on Manus Island to treat refugees for free.
In an open letter to the Federal Government released on Monday, the 18 leading doctors, surgeons and psychiatrists expressed their concern "about the ongoing health and wellbeing of the former detainees still based on Manus Island."
The Manus Regional Processing Center was closed by the Australian government at the end of October with essential services being cut off immediately.
Hundreds of men remained in the center, however, saying they feared for their safety in alternative accommodation arranged by the Papua New Guinean government.
The men, most of who were detained on Manus when they tried to arrive in Australia by boat, survived off rainwater and small amounts of food provided by Manus Island residents.
Those that chose to remain were forcibly removed from the camp on Saturday and moved to a new camp but there has been conjecture over whether that facility is up to standard.
Signatories to the open letter included Nick Talley, editor of the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), former Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry and Bastian Seidel, president of the College of General Practitioners (GPs).
"We believe that there should be an immediate, independent review of the health status of those still on Manus," they wrote.
"We are willing to conduct this review pro-bono, arranging the appropriate mix of clinical specialties."
The group called on the Federal Government to facilitate diplomatic permission for their visit.
"There are reports of poor hygiene and sanitation, limited supply of electricity and inadequate living conditions," the letter said.
"All of these exacerbate disease and ill-health."
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concerns over the situation after receiving reports that several men had been severely injured by police.
"The situation still unfolding on Manus Island presents a grave risk of further deterioration, and of further damage to extremely vulnerable human beings," UNHCR regional representative Thomas Albrecht said on Saturday.
