Refugees on Manus Island say they are running out of food because local landowners are blockading their accommodation.

Protesting landowners have been stopping staff, medicine and food deliveries from going in to the East Lorengau Transit Centre, where more than 300 men are kept, since December 19.

Sri Lankan refugee Thanus Selvarasa said they are also preventing the men inside from leaving.

"These local people attack us, the camp (and) we are hostage people now," he said.

"They don't provide food and medicine."

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Mr Selvarasa said the blockade prevented a scheduled food delivery from arriving.

"We have some rice only but today it's mostly finished," he said.

"If they don't provide, we don't have."

Refugees said the contractor delivered some food in secret but was forced to stop when protesters found out.

Iranian refugee and journalist Behrouz Boochani is inside the centre and says the Australian Border Force "must find a solution" to the situation.

"Anything bad happens to us, those who took us here by force are responsible," he tweeted.

The landowners first protested outside the centre on November 29.

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Their threats against case management staff forced contractor JDA Wokman to evacuate its personnel from Manus Island.

Now landowners are reportedly demanding compensation from the Australian and PNG governments.

Although the protest is about an Australian Government contract, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs refused to comment, saying only: "This is a matter for the Government of PNG."

The ABC has also sought comment from the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority and PNG Police.

Staff discuss the ongoing standoff at the gates of the refugee centre. ( ABC: Supplied )

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