An Iraqi asylum seeker who has been refusing food for more than 230 days is expected to be medically-evacuated from Manus Island to Port Moresby.
Mohammad Albederee, 31, a father-of-three, has been receiving fluid via intravenous drip on and off during that time.
Refugee advocate Jeanie Walker said he was now jaundiced and had no circulation in his legs because of prolonged starvation and dehydration.
"He has been moved to a Port Moresby hospital on previous occasions and they said they don't have the specialist resources required for his multiple and chronic health problems so there is no point keeping him there," she told AAP on Thursday.
Confirmation has been sought from the immigration department.
Ms Walker said Mr Albederee has been at the International Health and Medical Services clinic at the detention centre on Manus Island for the past few days.
He has 10 injections daily to prevent blood clots.
"They have told him quietly to leave his belongings in his room and they will collect them and send all of them with him this time, which seems to indicate he is not coming back," Ms Walker said.
Mr Albederee stopped eating to protest the lack of medical treatment for his kidney and shoulder problems, the result of an alleged assault by guards at the Papua New Guinea detention centre last year.
He was reportedly flown to Port Moresby in mid-June for X-rays and an MRI but instead of being kept in a hospital, was put in a hotel room and guarded for 12 days.
© AAP 2024
