The source downplayed local media reports which said as many as 40 prisoners had fallen ill as a result of the hunger strike.

“We often have prisoners falling sick. Last night about 20 inmates, mostly those who are on a hunger strike, felt nauseous and were taken to nearby hospitals,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They were treated and returned [to prison] right away.”

The prisoners’ chaplain, Father Marwan Ghanem, could not confirm the report of sickness among Roumieh’s inmates.

He told The Daily Star online, however, that the number of hunger strikers at Roumieh prison, 12 kilometers northeast of Beirut, had risen to 2,373, since 2,000 began the strike Friday.

Head of the Gendarmerie, Brig. Gen. Salah Jebran, recently told The Daily Star that new policies adopted by the Internal Security Forces and the prison administration had improved the situation in the prison.

“We have reduced the number of inmates from 3,700 to 3,140 and have replaced the former prison doctor with 10 new doctors,” Jebran had said.

In a telephone interview Thursday, Ghanem told The Daily Star online that up to 2,500 Roumieh prisoners have been in detention without trial for long periods.

While Ghanem hailed the Interior Ministry reforms, he voiced disappointment with the Justice Ministry’s “slow” progress on trials for those detained.

Ghanem said he is to participate in a meeting Thursday at the Interior Ministry to follow up on the prisoners’ demands.

The Association of Justice and Mercy warned Wednesday that inmates on hunger strike at Roumieh’s prison needed medical attention and doctors.

“We call on all officials to act responsibly by adopting the proper measures to follow up on this movement, by informing the infirmary of the jail of the names of all who are taking part in the strike,” AJEM said in a statement.

AJEM voiced hope that the “prisoners’ calls would be heard and respected since they are being conveyed in a peaceful and civil way.”