Egypt arrests 77 Eritrean and deports 48 others

(Adoulis) - The number of Eritrean detainees in the Egyptian city of Aswan reportedly reached 77 detainees. Meanwhile, the Egyptian authorities had arrested 48 other Eritreans while they were trying to cross the Egyptian-Sudanese border and handed them to the Sudanese authorities.

The Sudanese authorities transported the Eritreans to kilo 26 refugee camp, and then, transferred them yesterday to Shagarab refugee camp in eastern Sudan whereby 30 of them are receiving medical treatment in the camp's hospital.

Sources said that the Eritrean embassy in Egypt was seeking to take back the 77 Eritreans including 33 women and children who are detained in one of Aswan prisons; however, the refugees who were on their way to Israel across the Sinai desert to request political asylum there refused return to their country.

The Egyptian authorities also arrested, yesterday, two Eritrean women while attempting to infiltrate into Israel via southern Rafah passageway along with other Africans.

In related context Ethiopian police sources in the eastern area of Tigray province stated that 1600 Eritreans have arrived in Ethiopia through the border between the two countries during the past four months.

The commander-in-chief of the police in the region, Gabrahiwet Kahsai, told Walta News Agency that the Eritreans have fled to Ethiopia because of deteriorated economic and political conditions in their country.