Eighteen asylum seekers being held by Australia on the Pacific island of Nauru have been taken to hospital as their hunger strike entered its nineteenth day.
A further 27 detainees are still refusing food and water, officials said on Monday.
Four of the hunger strikers have sewn their mouths shut.
"The number of people refusing food is 45. All are adult males."
The hunger strikers, Afghans and Pakistanis, are protesting against the rejection of their refugee claims by Australia.
"Pacific Solution" to deter the arrival of boat people.
policy against asylum seekers arriving by boat.
Human rights group Amnesty International has called for the government to close down the camp because it claims detainees are denied basic human rights and living standards.
visas in guarded camps while their cases are handled - a process which can take years.
immigration centres, which are currently housing about 1200 people.