Refugees have continued their protest on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island detention center over the removal of power, water, and medical services. A journalist on the scene warns that there could be a “big tragedy” if they are forcibly removed.

The protests at the detention center, which is run by Australia, have reportedly been met with an increased security presence for most of the last week. The removal of vital services is seen by those held there as part of a wider campaign to move them to another detention center on the island.

#Manusprotest. You cannot take the refugees out without paying the cost. It's a strong message to the gov pic.twitter.com/bJClct2JoE — Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) August 6, 2017

Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian journalist and refugee on the island, has warned that there will be a “big tragedy” if Australia forcibly removes the inhabitants, describing the living conditions there as “like a nightmare.”

If Australia takes refugees by force to PNG community I can guarantee will be a big tragedy. These people extremely scared to live in PNG. — Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) August 6, 2017

Most refugees in #Manus not sleeping well these days, & need sleeping tablets. Living in PNG is like a nightmare, too much pressure on them. — Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) August 6, 2017

Boochani further reports that some refugees have become sick and are vomiting blood “Probably because of [a] lack of water & dirty toilets,” and that a reliable source has told him that local police and special forces are planning to attack the center in the coming days.

Some refugees who became sick are vomiting blood.About 20 refugees quarantined in medical. Probably because of lack of water & dirty toilets — Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) August 6, 2017

Reliable source says local police & special forces will attack detention centre in coming days.If so there'll be a big tragedy #ManusProtest — Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) August 6, 2017

Manus Island hit the headlines on Thursday for other reasons. Transcripts of a conversation between US President Donald Trump and Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull were leaked, with the island featuring prominently in the pair’s conversation.

A deal to take in 1,250 refugees from Australia's detention centers on Manus and the island nation of Nauru was agreed by former President Barack Obama on humanitarian grounds, following intervention from the United Nations. In return, Australia agreed to resettle refugees from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

However, during the phone call, the transcript of which was leaked to the Washington Post, Trump made his feelings on the “dumb deal” perfectly clear.

Do you believe it? The Obama Administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2017

“I hate taking these people,” the US president said. “I guarantee you they are bad. That is why they are in prison right now. They are not going to be wonderful people who go on to work for the local milk people."

“I think it is a horrible deal, a disgusting deal that I would have never made,” continued Trump. “As far as I am concerned, that is enough, Malcolm. I have had it.”

Though Trump has a clear distaste for the deal, Vice President Mike Pence confirmed in April that the US would be honoring the commitment to Australia "out of respect to this enormously important alliance."