Fed: Health of shipload of aslyum seekers deteriorates

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2001
Fed: Health of shipload of aslyum seekers deteriorates

CANBERRA, Aug 28 AAP - The health of more than 400 asylum seekers stranded on a Norwegian
ship off Christmas Island was deteriorating, the ship's captain said today.

Arne Rinnan, captain of the container ship Tampa, said 22 members of the group had
diarrhoea, some had scabies and many had stomach problems, while others were on a hunger
strike.

"They're starting to get more and more sick," he told the John Laws radio show.

"Yesterday afternoon at 1800 they went on a hunger strike. They refused to take food
and water, except for the children and four pregnant women."

Mr Rinnan said the ship had enough food to feed the group for between seven and 10 days.

"But now they went on a hunger strike it might last a little bit longer," he said.

The Norwegian freighter was refused entry to Australian waters after it rescued 438
people from a sinking fishing boat in international waters.

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KEYWORD: BOAT CAPTAIN

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