Hunger strike on Nauru continues

A total of 25 asylum seekers on Nauru have needed medical help as their hunger strike continues.

Greens attack Nauru health deal

The Greens say a health agreement for asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island is inadequate.

Ten asylum seekers on hunger strike on Nauru remain in the care of medics as their protest continues.

About 300 detainees are refusing food in the protest, which started on Thursday morning.

A total of 25 have now been treated at the medical centre either after collapsing or becoming weak, with 10 still there on Saturday evening, according to refugee advocate Ian Rintoul.

Mr Rintoul, of the Refugee Action Coalition, said the protesters are outraged by recent attempted suicides and self-harm incidents.

He has called for the Department of Immigration to respond to asylum seekers' requests for a meeting.

"We are growing increasingly concerned about the health and fate of the asylum seekers," Mr Rintoul said.

"It is increasingly urgent that the minister intervenes.

"There is no excuse for delaying the processing of the asylum seekers in Nauru or in Australia."

In a statement, the hunger strikers said they were not being given fair treatment and demanded to be taken to Australia. They said the centre at Nauru should be closed.

"We accept Australia as a democratic country, where people are being treated equally and as a human beings, we expect the same treatment," they said.

A Department of Immigration spokesman said medical assistance was being provided to anyone in need of it, and that food and drink was made available to all asylum seekers.

"We continue to monitor the situation closely and engage with them," he said.

"It has been made clear that these sorts of actions and protests have no impact on the outcome of their cases."


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Source: AAP

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