CAIRO: The Egyptian High Committee for Organ Transplantation will send Egyptian Minister of Health Amr Hilmi a proposal to form a fact-finding committee, which would be charged with investigation into the illicit organ transplantation in North Sinai, said Abdel Hamid Abaza, the chairman of the Committee. Youm7 published an investigative report yesterday on organ trafficking in Sinai. This proposed committee will conduct investigations with doctors who confirmed the trafficking ring, involving African migrants who illegally emigrate to Israel. This investigation could lead to prosecution using the organ transplantation statute for the first time ever, said Abaza. The stealing of organs in this trafficking ring is quite dangerous because, for example, the liver cannot be out of the body for more than 16 hours and requires proper oversight by medical experts, he said, adding that the cornea is the only body part that can be transplanted without medical analysis. The Youm7 report penetrated the world of organ traffickers who often prey on African migrants, whose organs are harvested and sold, and whose corpses are then left to decompose in the surrounding Sinai desert. The remains of five dead Africans are inside the Arish Hospital Mortuary. Egyptian security also found the bodies of two Africans killed by gunshot wounds on the Egyptian-Israeli border. Their identities are unknown as of publication and the bodies were transferred also to Arish Hospital. Decomposition suggests that the two unnamed Africans were killed several days ago. Meanwhile, Egyptian police thwarted an infiltration to Israel attempt today, chasing 17 migrants at the Awja exit. links: Youm7 reveals the secrets of organ trafficking in Sinai Arabic here
