The Australian government is coming under mounting pressure not to detain children in its camps for illegal immigrants after several teenagers sewed up their lips during a hunger strike.
Over 200 Afghan detainees, including 36 aged under 18, entered the seventh day of a hunger strike today at Woomera, the biggest and most isolated camp, to protest the time taken to process refugee claims.
Some 64, including one teenager, had sewn their lips - although officials said many had used just a single cotton stitch.
In the past, processing of refugee claims has taken from months to years, and Afghans now face the added uncertainty of the government last month freezing their applications because the situation in Afghanistan remained unclear.
Immigration Minister Mr Philip Ruddock said the protest - the latest in a series of demonstrations and escapes at Woomera - would not change official decisions nor the policy to detain all illegal immigrants in secure camps to assess cases.
Three teenagers - aged 12, 14, and 15 - were taken to hospital at the weekend suffering from dehydration, having sewn up their lips. After treatment, they were returned to the camp.
Six detainees, including two minors, were treated at the camp or hospital on Monday after drinking disinfectant and shampoo.