Fears of a humanitarian crisis will come to a head on Tuesday as more than 600 refugees and asylum seekers are forced out of Australia’s offshore processing centre at Manus Island.

Food has already been withdrawn, and water and electricity is being shut off before the Papua New Guinea navy retakes control of the site on Wednesday.

The men fear violence from police and locals, and say they will peacefully resist the move to three centres at Lorengau township because of safety concerns.

Kate Schuetze, Pacific Researcher at Amnesty International, who is on Manus to witness the closure, told The New Daily one of the new centres was still “barely more than a construction site”.

Video footage taken on Monday showed shipping containers stacked on top of one another.

Iranian refugee Behrouz Boochani, a journalist detained at the site, said the men were “extremely worried about their future”.

“They feel they have lost everything and are forgotten people and are determined to resist by their bodies. They are saying we are ready to endure starvation,” Mr Boochani told The New Daily.

Two days’ worth of food – including muesli bars, cornflakes and pre-cooked meals – was handed out on Sunday. The detainees complained perishables would be inedible, because microwaves and refrigeration were also withdrawn.

Two days’ worth of food was handed out to the men on Sunday. The perishable food would be inedible, the refugees and asylum seekers said. Photo: Supplied

Extra PNG police have been deployed, and former Manus Island MP Ron Knight said he expected police would use force if necessary.

Immigration Department Secretary Michael Pezzullo told a Senate committee last week that it was a matter for the PNG government to decide whether the men would be removed by force.

The men fear violence from navy personnel, Mr Boochani said, who shot at detainees on Good Friday this year.

Ms Schuetze said she was “anxious” about violence breaking out: “What may happen [on Tuesday], it’s going to be very difficult to predict.

“It’s going to be very difficult to get direct access to the centre … we’ll just have to see how it goes – what’s happening and where. Essentially our role is to be here and report on what’s happening, and make sure this isn’t swept under the rug by the Australian and Papua New Guinea governments.”

She was concerned the men could self-harm, following two suspected suicides over the past two months.

Ward One – new site for #refugees on #Manus nothing more than a few shipping containers. pic.twitter.com/vuMKuCeX2F

— Kate Schuetze (@schuetze_k) October 30, 2017

“The more pressure the refugees are put under, of course we’re going to see more harm and more detriment to them, as well as more attempts at self harm.”

She called on Australia to end offshore processing, “or we’re heading towards a disaster”.

Greens senator Nick McKim and representatives from the United Nations are also on Manus to witness the closure.

Senator McKim, who is expected to be on Manus until Thursday, called on Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to intervene and evacuate the men to Australia.

“This situation could become violent because of his creation and escalation of this humanitarian crisis,” the Tasmanian senator said in a statement on Monday.

Anger has also been building among locals at Lorengau, who are petitioning against the relocation.

Mr Knight said it was possible violence would break out between authorities and locals. Refugees have reported being attacked and robbed by locals with machetes over recent months.

Governor of Manus Island Charlie Benjamin said many locals feared they would be in danger, and were threatening to arm themselves with knives and other weapons to stop the men moving in.

PNG is demanding Australia takes responsibility for the men and clarify its plans.

“There has to be a clear understanding of what Australia will continue to do and support PNG in the next few months to deal with the remaining caseload,” PNG Immigration Minister Petrus Thomas said in a statement.

The closure follows a PNG Supreme Court ruling in April 2016 that the detention was illegal and unconstitutional.

Acting Prime Minister Julie Bishop said Australia was working on solutions, pointing to negotiations underway as well as the US resettlement deal.

The New Daily has contacted the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Greens Senator Nick McKim is visiting Manus Island to witness the closure on Tuesday. Photo: Twitter

-with AAP