House of Welcome Urges Government to End Suffering in Offshore Detention

House of Welcome is gravely concerned about the situation currently unfolding in the Republic of Nauru. Rising cases of dengue fever have been reported among individuals who have been forcibly detained in Nauru due to the Australian government’s offshore detention policy.  

At least nine people seeking asylum have reportedly contracted the infection so far, and the outbreak is likely to worsen. Nauru’s health system is known to be fragile, under resourced and easily overwhelmed. Severe cases of dengue fever can lead to death if not treated properly and promptly.  

Over the last few months, various human rights organisations have reported a concerning deterioration in the health of people seeking asylum in Nauru. Children have suffered a decline in wellbeing, and are experiencing weight loss, incidents of self-harm, kidney problems, depression, and insomnia.  

The Australian government holds clear responsibility for ensuring that adequate health care services are provided to people seeking asylum while they are forcibly held in Nauru. 

In January 2025, the United Nations Human Rights Committee found that Australia had violated human rights treaties by detaining a group of people seeking asylum. This violation included the detention of minors, even after they had been granted refugee status. According to the UN, “Australia cannot escape its human rights responsibility when outsourcing asylum processing to another state”. 

House of Welcome reiterates its firm opposition to all forms of offshore detention policies and calls on the newly formed Australian Cabinet to put an end to these abhorrent policies. We implore the government to prioritise the humane treatment, rights, and fair processing of people seeking asylum.  

For nearly 25 years, House of Welcome has provided comprehensive, wrap-around supports to people seeking asylum from around the world, irrespective of race, religion, gender or identity.