Associated Press/Washington Post
March 2, 2011
More than a third of the 240 North African immigrants on hunger strike in a central Athens mansion for the past 37 days have been hospitalized with severe health problems, say members of a migrant support network.
Doctor Thanassis Karabelis said Wednesday that 81 of the 240 mostly Moroccan men required hospital treatment, mostly for dehydration, kidney and heart problems and "it is quite likely" more will be taken to hospital in the next few hours.
The men are fasting in a bid to secure elusive residence permits. Dozens have also been refusing liquids since the weekend. They have been joined by 50 men in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, 17 of whom have also been hospitalized.
The government has refused to grant the migrants' demands, saying they entered Greece illegally and granting them legal status would only encourage other such protests. Strikers counter that they have worked for up to ten years in the country, suffered discrimination and police harassment, and are willing to risk their lives for legal papers.
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