War, religious persecution and poverty are driving thousands of sub-Saharan Africans north through Egypt to seek better lives in Israel or Europe. Many — perhaps most — never make it further than the border towns of Egypt.

According to human rights groups, slavery, forced repatriation, rape, torture and death await many of these migrants and refugees. The latest report by Agenzia Habeshia provides details of some 300 Eritreans and Ethiopians who are being held in police stations in Aswan and in the military camp of Shelal in “inhuman and degrading conditions”. But that's not the worst.

In the unofficial camps, run by traffickers who promise to bring the migrants to Egypt, slavery is still a reality and there is also evidence that the traffickers are involved in the trade of body parts.

According to a doctor in the border town of Arish, a number of “disembowelled bodies” have been discovered. Organs, especially kidneys, were missing. Furthermore, in a recent car crash, officials discovered a small refrigerator containing several human organs.

Against this background, a number of human rights groups have launched an urgent appeal to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other international agencies to demand that Egypt takes action to halt the ill-treatment of migrants.

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