Eight more Afghan men have joined the 31 who went on hunger strike yesterday in a desperate bid to stay in Ireland.
The men, aged between 16 and 45, have been in Ireland for between one and five years but have been told they must return to their war-ravaged country where they say their lives will be in danger.
Among those on the protest, which involves the refusal to take water, was a boy who celebrated his 17 thbirthday today. He rejoined his compatriots today, having been taken to hospital last night with a kidney infection.
He is among six hunger strikers under the age of 18.
The Afghans are sleeping on benches and the floor of St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. They gathered in the precept yesterday hoping to pressurise Minister for Justice Michael McDowell into granting them refugee status.
The cathedral was closed for most of yesterday because of the unexpected protest but was open to the public today, though the demonstrators were cordoned off.
All the men are showing signs of fatigue and as the media gathered this afternoon to report on their protest many dozed, or sat, impassively, sometimes burying their head in their hands.
Though many speak reasonable English few were confident enough to talk to reporters.
Osman Hotak (27) has become their spokesperson and he told ireland.comtoday that his compatriots were willing to risk their lives stay on hunger strike rather than return to Afghanistan.
"We have committed ourselves until somebody comes to help us," Mr Hotak said.
"I come from Afghanistan, a country which was devastated by three decades of war. It is a really dangerous country. It is a very vengeful society with conservatism and tribalism without of freedom of speech and freedom of movement and men are the first target."
Most of the men have been living in hostel accommodation since they arrived in Ireland and despite their experience, Mr Hotak believes the Irish public would welcome them.
"The Irish nation itself has a tradition of exporting emigrants all over the world ... I believe that the Irish people themselves are very good people [and] that they would welcome us and we would be really privileged to live here."
The Green Party, Labour Party and Sinn Féin have all given support to the protest and have urged Mr McDowell to take action. However, he that the men have been treated fairly by the Irish system and that they cannot be dealt with collectively.
Most of the men face deportation after negotiating all procedures and appeals and are reliant on being granted the right to stay on humanitarian grounds.
But Residents Against Racism (RAR) - one of the groups supporting the men - say that statistically there is only a one-in-200 chance of that happening.
Emma Spence of RAR said the men are "determined to stay on strike until the Minister for Justice meets their request".
The men have been assured by cathedral authorities that they will not be forcibly removed and the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Dr John Neill met them today.