Refugee whacked with iron bar on Manus

A pair of Manus Island residents have been charged over an attack that allegedly left a refugee with a deep gash on his head and blood dripping down his arms.

Human Rights Law Centre spokesman Daniel Webb told AAP he was at the police station and witnessed the aftermath of the alleged violent attack on the two Afghan refugees last Wednesday, and then spoke directly with the more severely injured man once he had been revived in hospital.

"They were surrounded by a group of seven locals who shouted abuse at them, demanded their clothes and shoes, and beat them up, and the attack ended when another local intervened to save them," Mr Webb said.

The Australian immigration department said it was aware of the incident in Lorengau township and confirmed the two refugees had been taken to the local hospital with cuts and bruising before being transferred to the detention centre's medical facility.

A department spokeswoman said Papua New Guinea police have charged two locals with the assault.