An Australian doctor says he has had to resort to giving medical advice over the phone to asylum seekers on a boat at an Indonesian port.
The Tamils have been refusing to go into detention for processing for almost three months.
A man died on the boat, moored at Merak, before Christmas, and others are getting treatment at the local hospital.
But refugee advocate and doctor Brian Senewiratne says authorities are not responding to requests for medical help.
"It is outrageous that I have to do such a thing because they are not getting any treatment of any sort," he said.
"There is a not a single medically-qualified person on the boat and all the international aid agencies and those who could supply help, such as international aid agencies, have all pulled out.
"I think that the Australian Medical Association should insist that Australian doctors - one, two or three - be allowed access for medical reasons to check up on the medical situation both on the boat as well as the so-called detention centres."
Source: ABC News, http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/06/2786265.htm?section=world
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