ISRAEL: TORTURE AND STURP IN THE DESERT OF SINAI, THE HARD WAY OF MIGRANT

Google Traduttore (IRIS) - ROMA, 13 DIC - Refugees and asylum seekers fleeing from conflict, genocide, famine and torture face a trip extremely difficult without health care. Thousands of people fleeing from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan and other African countries search of safety and security, through Egypt, in a hostile and insecure environment. Once in Israel, are immediately detained, often for several days or weeks, and sometimes for months. After the detention, many of these people arrive at the Open Clinic, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR - Israel) in Tel Aviv-Jaffa for assistance for diseases and trauma suffered during the trip. The Open Clinic is a center doctor opened maintained by volunteer doctors who provide care Israelis medical people out of the oven of any medical coverage and is committed Advocacy in action at the Israeli government to ensure better protection to refugees, asylum seekers and other groups migrants. In recent months, the clinic staff has found a increasing number of requests for voluntary interruption of by pregnant women from the Sinai. In conversation with doctors, many women confessed to having been raped before entering Israel. Out of a total of 165 voluntary terminations pregnancy followed by clinic between January to November 2010, Doctors Human Rights-Israel estimates that half has been requested by women raped in the Sinai. During the same period, 1,303 women are underwent gynecological treatment, most of which necessitated because the violence suffered in the Sinai. The difficulties addressed in the Sinai have also caused an increase in the number of assisted patients at the rehabilitation services of the Open Clinic. In the first 11 months of 2010, 367 people were subjected to orthopedic treatment and physiotherapy to 225. To collect More detailed information on Cresent number of cases of torture, kidnapping, rape, physical and sexual abuse, PHR-Israel has decided to systematically collect the testimonies of patients who arrive in Israel through the Sinai desert. To date, PHR-Israel interviewed a total of 167 people from Eritrea and Ethiopia, Sudan, Cote d'Ivoire Leone, Somalia, Nigeria, Ghana, Congo and Sierra, including 108 men and 59 women. The first results show that the Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees are under the most violence and then for the purposes of this document, their responses are were analyzed separately. Of the 13 women who agreed to answer questions about sexual violence (22% of total), 38% answered affirmatively. Except for the part relating to sexual violence, participation in interviews was high. The following data were collected from 144 interviews. 77% of Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees have told of have been victims of physical attacks such as punches, slaps, kicks and whipping (compared to 63% of patients from other countries Africa). 23% of patients Eritreans and Ethiopians have reported suffered burns, branding, electric shock, and suspension by the hands or feet. None of the patients coming from other countries said to have suffered this kind of torture. The 94% of Eritreans and Ethiopians said that he was deprived of food and 74% said that he was deprived of water. The phenomenon has occurred even among other African refugees and 80% was deprived of food and 53% has been deprived of water. Two weeks ago, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot has achieved a in-depth report entitled Desert Hell (Inferno Desert) where PHR Israel denounced the torture and abuse, now institutionalized, suffered by the refugees (especially those from Ethiopia and Eritrea) in the Sinai during their journey to Israel. According to numerous accounts, groups of about 200-300 Eritreans are brought into the Sinai, where they are held in containers or areas enclosures. The prisoners are subjected to beatings or torture by burns, while the smugglers call their relatives asking the immediate transfer of money in exchange for the guarantee for the release and for transit to the border with Israel. Because of large sums in ransom demands, often take weeks or even months so the refugees could reach the border. E 'during this period that women are separated from the group, held in secluded areas and subjected to repeated sexual acts, abuse and rapes at the hands of their captors. Last weekend week, PHR-Israel has gathered new evidence which lead to believe that the situation in the Sinai is becoming increasingly precarious. Whereas previously the victims were required to pay between 2500-3000 dollars, the sum now claimed as ransom of $ 10,000. According to what has been reported to PHR-Israel, sources close to the hostages seized in the present desert, about 220 people are currently held by smugglers in a 'torture camp' of Sinai. The group of 80 individuals who are arrived a month ago were added last week, 140 refugees directed towards Israel.