Hunger striker collapses during news conference
One of more than 200 migrants that are staging a hunger strike in a listed building in central Athens collapsed during a news conference on Friday and was rushed to hospital, making him the fourth protestor to be hospitalized.
The migrant, who was named as ?Hasan? by fellow protestors, was suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion, according to doctors.
The immigrants entered the 25th day of the hunger strike, which has seen most of them consume only sugar and water.
?We are not afraid of death,? said Hasan before fainting. ?At least we will die because we fought for something.?
The economic migrants, who had been living and working in Greece legally, have been unable to renew their permits because they lack the necessary social security credits.
They are demanding that the government intervenes to help them stay in Greece. The Interior Ministry has said it is looking into ways to relax the requirements for migrants renewing their residence permits but has not commented on the protesters? case specifically.
Doctor Thanasis Karabelis, who is monitoring the hunger strikers? health, has warned that their condition is deteriorating and more of them will have to be taken to the hospital.
