A young female refugee has been critically injured setting herself on fire on Nauru, just days after a male asylum seeker died from self-inflicted burns.
The 21-year-old Somali woman suffered critical injuries after setting herself alight on the island on Monday, the Nauruan government said.
Australia's Immigration Department confirmed it was aware of an incident of self-immolation by a female refugee on Nauru.
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"The department is supporting the government of Nauru to identify appropriate medical treatment options," a spokesman told AAP in a statement.
The Nauruan government said the woman was being treated by four Australian doctors at the Republic of Nauru Hospital.
An emergency evacuation had been requested, it said in a statement.
The local government said it was distressed that refugees were attempting "dreadful acts" to influence the Australian government's immigration policies.
It's the second such incident on Nauru within a week, after a 23-year-old Iranian man known as Omid set himself on fire during a visit by United Nations refugee officials to the island.
He died in Brisbane Hospital on Friday.
The Nauruan government denies reports Omid was not provided quality care at Nauru hospital.
The Refugee Action Coalition identified the female refugee injured on Monday as Hadon.
It alleges the 21-year-old was one of three refugees returned to Nauru last week, after being taken from Brisbane's immigration transit accommodation.
The advocates said she was brought to Australia in November after suffering a head injury.
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The Nauruan government said refugees on Nauru were given the same freedoms as its citizens but "have better facilities".
"Refugees and asylum seekers are not distressed due to their conditions," the statement said.
"Their conditions are better than most other refugee camps across the world."
The detention centre on Nauru has recently been opened, meaning asylum seekers and refugees can roam the island.
The Nauru government called for refugee advocates to stop giving refugees and asylum seekers false hope and "stirring up these protests".
"This is very distressing for support workers, health workers and all others who work closely with our refugee community," the government said.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she had been told the woman had burns to 70 per cent of her body.
"It's just beyond words," she told ABC on Monday.
"How desperate does somebody have to be? How hopeless must they feel to set themselves on fire?"
Senator Hanson-Young said she had been speaking to refugees now settled on Nauru, who were distressed by the incident.
"They feel trapped and they feel hopeless and this situation just brings right back to all of them what lack of future they all have."
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's office has been contacted for comment.
* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
