ISMAILIA, Egypt — Smugglers may have killed as many as 10 Ethiopian and Eritrean migrants in an armed battle near the Egyptian-Israeli border last week and dozens more could be lost in the desert, Egyptian security sources said on Sunday.
The Sinai peninsula is a major transit route for African migrants and refugees seeking work or asylum in Israel. It also is used by smugglers to ferry narcotics and weapons into Israel and a range of goods into the besieged Gaza Strip.
At least four migrants were killed on Friday after they stole weapons from smugglers who had been holding them for ransom and tried to escape. Egyptian police later gunned down at least two more migrants trying to cross the border.
Egyptian police suspect the death toll among the migrants may be as high as 10 following Friday’s shooting, with more bodies still to be discovered, a security source who asked not to be named said.
The smugglers had been holding about 50 Ethiopians and Eritreans for ransom and dozens of the escaped migrants are still missing, the source said.
“A number of the migrants might die of thirst as many are believed to have lost their way in the desert,” the source said.
(Reuters)
The violence brings the number of migrants killed near the Egypt-Israel border this year to at least 28, up from 19 in 2009. Twenty-four of those killed this year were shot dead by Egyptian security forces and four by smugglers.
(Reporting by Yusri Mohamed; Writing by Dina Zayed and Alexander Dziadosz in Cairo; Editing by Michael Roddy)
19 thoughts on “Several Ethiopians killed at the Egypt-Israel border”
I am so sorry to hear many Ethiopian and Eritreans are being killed by Egyptian security guards and those criminal smuglers. The Egpytians do not have any regard of the life of Ethiopians and Eritreans because they see us Habeshas as inferior to them………..we Ethiopians and Eritreans are brothers and sisters with more intelligence than them. We need to work together to stop this none sense kiling.
The solution is simple and easy ,,this retarded mubarek regime in Egypt has to pay the price.You can’t just gun down innocent refugee along the boarder just for security reason. Let we divert every drop of the water to other part so they can’t get full stomach and energy to push the gun to our beloved brothers and sisters ..let they face the drought of 1984 Ethiopian drought so they can’t raise the head to gun down our people. Babelahu twegahu ale yagere lig. Abay has to revenge all this killing. Bring those killers to justice ..Let Mubarek answer his primitive action in the Hgue.
Peace and peosperity for Ethiopians and Eritreans
Down with these rtarded Arabs
It’s sad to hear the killing of these habeshas(eth.&ert.)by the stupid arabs.Again I’m surprising the silence of the international community(esp. USA& UK).It’s known that egypt is their ambassdor to the arb world,and they don’t want to condem or critisize it evil acts simply becasue it’s not their bussiness…wey alem!!!
The Egyptians are getting to arrogant, it seems like they are pushing us to the extreme to punish them. They can be rest assured, we will avenge our dead and abused brothers and sisters !!
What’s probably not amazing, although deeply tragic, is the fact that Prime Minister Melles Zenawi, and President Isaias Afeworki are completely silent when their nationals are gunned down by another African government, Egypt. This thundering silence confirms their lack of total disregard for the concerns of the people on whose shoulders they are riding to satiate their thirst for power and corruption!
I wonder where the African Unity is when one of its own members, an Arab government i.e. Egypt is murdering Africans to protect the Israeli border!
Does Mubarak forget the fact that his prohet Mohammed sent refugees including his daughter, Rockeya, to Ethiopia when they faced persecution in Mecca?
Are Egyptian soldiers brave when they shoot refugees in the back????
Where’s Amnesty International and the UN High Commission for Refugees?!!!!!!
Nile:You
are the gifted dancer of graceful rhythms
That harmonize with your sisters Etbara and shabale
With your brothers Awash and Juba
To fertilize the scorched sands of Arabia
O Nile, without your gift Mideterania shall be a rock of dead waters
And Sahara shall be a basket of skeletons
You are Africa’s black soil that produce life
You are the milk that quench the thirsty multitudes
You are the messenger of my gospel, O Nile
That bring my abundant harvest to the mouth of the needy
You are the elegant pilgrim of my mercy.
You are the first fountain you are the first ever Ethiopia
You are the appeaser of the lustful greeds
You are the first Earth Mother of all fertility
A poem by Tsegaye Gebre Medhin
Yabyin lij wuha yitmau?
I am getting sick and tired by the criminal activities of the Arabs who were never friends of Eritrea and Ethiopia. But, in a way, I don’t blame them. They saw our disunity and are taking advantage of that.
Brothers and sisters, let’s stop the bickering between our two nations and work together as Eritrea and Ethiopia and coordinate our efforts in any international activities!
It is really a very sad story. May all rest in peace!!!! That area as we all can tell is a security zone. I wish these refugees select another way of escaping their dire strait livelihood at home. We should all pray for the end of destitution in both Ethiopia and Eritrea so people will have no desperate need to leave their countries looking for a better life. South Koreans, Thais, Malays, Indians(they still do), Chinese(they still do in their many thousands), Italians and many others who are now well developed both economically and politically used to flee their homeland in droves up until the mid 80’s.
Criminal arab killing Ethiopians is not new.Arabs know Ethiopians don’t have government who speak for them.
Sometimes we think of ourselves to high. Don’t forget that Egypt has the best army in Africa. Their air force is only second to Israel. Guys, let’s be realistic and cool down, if we provoke to much the price might be too high. Ethiopia’s army is highly demoralized and divided on ethnic lines, let alone Egypt we can’t even beat Somalia. Let’s be careful. Weyanes have destroyed the Ethiopian army and the job is done by Meles to weaken the army. So let’s not be sure of the strength. The TPLf generals are not capable even to read a map let alone fighting the Egyptians. If they send their F-16 the dams will be a story.
It is so sad to hear that many Ethiopians and Eritreans are being killed in the Egyptian desers by Egyptian security guards and smuglers. The Egyptians do not have any respect for the life of our fellow brothers and sisters; for them they are just some black Africans.
This has to stop !
Why do they kill our people both Ethiopians and Eritreans? Didn’t they contribute to the mess in this countries by harboring anti Ethiopian elements since King Haileselassie’s time? Didn’t Gammal Abdil Nasser say that strong Somalia will keep the Nile flow to egypt undisturbed? Weren’t the egyptians accomodating encouraging assylum and refugee influx from our country for their political benefit in the horn?
What chaged today that they have become so brutal on refugees from the Habesha lands?
I thing the game may have changed and they are exposed with their cruel behaviours that they have disdain and contempt for our people far worse than the middle easterns. What is the solution?
I don’t think it is responding with harsh words because we still have many who live there but we have to come up with a much more shroud way of solving this issue. I for one can only get frustrated but couldn’t come up with a single idea of solving the issue other than prayer. But our governments could have an imput if they care. For now, cocerned civic and political groups should try to complain by a form of demonestration in Egyptian embassies around the world. That would actually contribute to increase the brother hood of Ethipians, Eritreans and Somalians.
“Since 2000 years this is the first time blacks have challenged us in a big way.” These are the words of an idiot Egyptian journalist commenting on the actions of the Nile riparian countries recently. Yes this is a single proof of their disrespect, contempt and disdain for blacks. I personaly had to sheak down an Egyptian in a hotel in DC after he commented similar words while climbing an escalator after a confernce. Hotel security guards were called and a couple of them were African Americans and after I told them what he had said and after they observed his arrogance, they had to tell him to get near me through out the conference or he would get thrown out of the hotel. The man was arrogant enough and did it again and got thrown out.
It is terribly saddening to hear such bad news. This has been happening for years. Egypt-Israel boarder is risky and such deaths have be observed repeatedly. Those who try to cross the border, knowing the possible consequences, would be like gambling with one’s own life. Not only we are dealing with Mubarak, the right arm of Israelis and Americans but also we are losing sight of reality around the boarder. The rule of the game is not a secret. It is known that crossing the border could mean death. Adding insult to injury, kidnapping will be things worse. We have to advise our loved brothers and sisters not to cross that boarder. The consequence could be beyond deportation.
Its sad and outregious to see our Habesha people (Ethio/Erit/Som)being killed by the Egyptians just like mosquitos.This only proves how Arabs consider black people as worthless.
Although,this is my first time to know that Ethiopians have become victims of this despicable act,but its not new to the poor Eritreans.They have been shot and killed for atleast the last 3 years some of them at point blank by the merciless Egyptians.
I believe the Ethiopians are lucky to have a responsible government that can and will bring a formal complaint to the Eyptians.
My poor Eritrean brothers and sisters however,have no government that can speak on their behalf.Infact,it has been encouraging the Eyptians either to round them up and deport or shoot them.
Although,the shifta regime in Asmara is insignificant to the Eygptians but always there to make itself available for servitude.A case in point is the shifta leader recently didn’t waste time to fly out to Cairo without invited and critisize the Nile basin countries for their demand to have fair and equitable share of the river.
My Eritrean brothers and sisters,we know all the suffering that you have been through but its very important to realize that the line you are about to cross is deadly and dangerous.The merciless Egyptians have been given a free ride from a government that is supposed to protect you.”DON’T CROSS THE LINE” no matter how desperate the situation is.The fight against the regime that caused you all these suffering is on and gaining momentum every passing day and it will soon be relegated to the backwater of history. You are all invited to its funeral so ”Stay alive”.
Our prayers and thoughts to the victimes of this despicable act.
remove this cancer woyane and no more our brothers and sisters will face this kind of a problem.
Selamawi – you are not really Selamawi…you sound more SEYTANAWI.
#12 Tizibit
Ethiopia has no Government if you call bunch of SIFTA WOYANE GOVERNMAINT you are fulling your self NOT US ETHIOPIANS.
until Ethiopians have there owen elected government by the people for the people to the people…… Woyane is not a Government elected by Ethiopians.
so keep fulling yourself Woyane.
ok ER, you did not post my comments again about why you didn’t post my previous post, and about Eritrea.
I feel sorry, for lack of free speech here and democracy so, I will sign off from now on. Keep on cutting off people’s voice but then you are fighting Weyane for exact reason, how contradictory. You have no basis not to post my comments. Keep on stopping us from being Ethiopia’s activists and indirectly you are promoting anti Ethiopia. Shame on you! I will not come back again!