Eritrea Refugees in the Aswan Region of Egypt are on Hunger Strike Protesting Gross Violations of Refugee rights

The hunger strikers, who are protesting their maltreatment in the hands of Egyp-tian prison officers are said to be in a very poor condition on the fifth day of their protest, one female protestor had fainted and was in need of support at the time when Release Eritrea volunteers were in contact with the prisoners.

In response to their demand, the hunger strikers and some other 30 Eritrean prisoners, claim to have been transported to an undisclosed location in the mid-dle of the desert, where they have been severely beaten and are now in fear of deportation to Eritrea.

At the heart of these latest protests, is the case of two siblings Fecadu B Gebre-maryam (24) and Alem T Asfaha(17) (a brother and sister) who are recognized refugees and have been granted resettlement in Canada; however during the medical examinations, there was a cause for concern regarding a treatable lung condition that Alem was found to be suffering from, a medic associated with the Canadian embassy prescribed a course of treatment but is unwilling to adminis-ter the treatment whilst the young woman is in prison, meanwhile the Egyptian prison officers are refusing to let the pair out of prison until they are able to leave the country immediately. Fecadu and Alem have been in prison since 2008, when they were 22 and 15 respectively.

Concerned by this particular case and the treatment of the rest of the prisoners is Egypt, Release Eritrea has written to the UNHCR and is asking the support of all human rights organizations in highlighting this disturbing incident with Egyptian authorities and the UNHCR.

It is to be remembered that last summer six Eritrean refugees were caught in a fatal incidence across the Egyptian- Israeli boarders. And previously Egyptian authorities have deported hundreds of refugees back to Eritrea.

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