CAIRO: African refugees are being held captive by smugglers in Sinai and are often subjected to torture and abuses as captors demand more ransom money, a source in Sinai told Daily News Egypt. “They are often held captive as the smugglers demand more money from them. Unfortunately they are often abused and tortured by the smugglers,” the source said. The source added that last month some of the held refugees managed to escape with some of the smugglers' weapons and were later captured by border security forces in an exchange of gunfire that injured many of them. A report issued by Physicians for Human Rights Israel which canvassed African refugees who had managed to enter Israel stated that over 200 African refugees were being held in Sinai by smugglers and subjected to terrible conditions during their captivity. These conditions included being held in steel containers, being subjected to torture and rape, being burned with hot irons and being held for ransom. The report also stated that if successful in entering Israel, the refugees are often sent back to Sinai by Israeli forces where they may be subjected to the abuses again. Those who aren't sent back are kept in prison facilities in Israel, including women and children. The UNHCR had also issued a statement citing its concern regarding a group of 250 Eritreans “who have been held hostages by traffickers for over a month in the Sinai desert, Egypt.” The Sinai source discounted the numbers presented in the reports, saying the number of held refugees was closer to 30, but added that it was a fluid number as more migrants came in and out. The foreign ministry had denied reports that hundreds of African refugees are being held captive in Sinai in debilitating conditions and that some have been subject to rape. Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said last Saturday that authorities were unaware of this matter and additionally that the Ministry of Information had no information. Elaborating, foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki had said, “The Foreign Minister said that authorities in question are following the issue and that no positive facts supporting these media rumors were found. The issue seems to be more than just media rumors; it seems to be spread by many suspicious organizations.” The Mena news agency cited an unnamed foreign ministry official who said that the Ministry of Interior had later disqualified these claims that were being “propagated to tarnish Egypt.” The official said that no accurate reports had been submitted regarding the whereabouts of the refugees “which cast doubt on the veracity of these claims.” African migrants often attempt to enter Israel via the border and enlist the help of smugglers in Sinai. However, if discovered they are often shot by security guards on the border. Sixty have been killed in the past two years as they have attempted to infiltrate the border.
