Fresh concerns over Eritrean hostages

There is increasing concern over the fate of a group of Eritrean refugees being held hostage by Bedouin people traffickers in the Sinai desert. The Eritreans are part of a much larger group of refugees and asylum seekers from Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia who have been imprisoned for over a month in degrading conditions.

Last week during his Sunday Angelus Pope Benedict took the opportunity to call for the hostages to be released.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s Advocacy Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Khataza Gondwe, told Lydia O’Kane that there are reports that 100 of the 250 Eritreans refugees have be moved.

…”we heard that a group of a hundred had been taken away. The fear is that there is a tendency to swap groups between trafficking syndicates and these people may have been sold on so they cannot be found”.
Dr Gondwe also said that CSW has also been informed that prior to separating and moving some of the Eritreans, the traffickers tore up the refugees’ religious materials and assaulted them severely for failing to make payments to secure their release.Listen here to interview with Lydia O'Kane