The rooftop protest at the Darwin Detention centre is becoming more intense, as one detainee has reportedly self-harmed.
What started as a group of five protestors on the rooftop last week became 20 over the weekend who are now hunger striking, and today, one man cut his arms and legs as desperation has deepened.
The detainees are calling on the Government to process their asylum claims more quickly. They say they have been waiting between 15 and 22 months in detention and they want freedom and peace.
Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition has been in close contact with detainees in the centre throughout the protests.
“They’ve seen the blood – they say there’s a lot of blood from the man who’s cut himself and he’s lying on the roof. There are 20 people still on the roof,” Mr Rintoul said.
Mr Rintoul said the situation inside the centre is very tense and everyone is very anxious.
“There’s still been no meeting about what’s happening (with their claims)…and everyone is still upset because there were hardly any visas this week.”
ABC Darwin has contacted the Department of Immigration and Citizenship but has not yet received a response.