Refugees Betrayed: Stop the Silent Crisis Facing Eritrean Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Egypt

Dear High Commissioner Grandi,

I am writing to bring to your urgent attention the deeply alarming and ongoing human rights violations being committed against Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt.

Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (HRCE) has received credible reports indicating that Egyptian authorities are conducting mass deportations of Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers, who fled their country in search of safety and protection. Over 150 Eritreans have already been forcibly returned to Eritrea, with many more at imminent risk as arrests continue across the country. Disturbingly, these deportations appear to be coordinated with the Eritrean Embassy, which is reportedly supplying travel documents to facilitate these forced returns. Even individuals registered with the UNHCR for international protection, including those with recognised refugee status, are being detained, with many more awaiting deportations.

This is a flagrant violation of the core principles of the 1951 Refugee Convention, to which Egypt is a signatory. Most notably, it contravenes the fundamental principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of refugees to any country where they face a real risk of persecution, torture, or threats to their life or freedom.

Many of those being targeted fled Eritrea due to well-founded fears of persecution, indefinite military conscription, which amounts to modern-day slavery, imprisonment, and other severe human rights abuses based on political opinion, religious belief, ethnicity, or attempts to evade forced military service. Under international law, these individuals have the right to seek asylum and be protected.

The current wave of roundups, detentions and forced deportations of Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers is not only inhumane, it is life-threatening. Several harrowing cases highlight the severity of this crisis:

• Michael Meashho, an Eritrean refugee registered in Egypt since 2016, has been held in detention for over a month. Reports indicate that Egyptian security agents escorted him to the Eritrean Embassy in an attempt to coerce him into signing deportation papers.

• A six-year-old child was left effectively orphaned when his mother was arrested and deported after briefly stepping out to buy a loaf of bread. The child now remains in the care of friends.

• Temesgen Mehari, a 24-year-old Eritrean refugee who had lived in Egypt since 2017, was reportedly in good health prior to his arrest in December 2024. He was detained in Agouza Prison and subsequently died in custody. His death was only reported to his family on 16 February, 2025. The exact cause and date of death remain unknown.

These are not isolated incidents, but part of a disturbing and escalating pattern that demands urgent international intervention. The UNHCR and the broader international community have a clear mandate and moral responsibility to protect those who have already fled unimaginable hardship and are now facing renewed danger.

We therefore call on your office to take immediate and decisive action by:

• Urging the Egyptian government to halt all arbitrary arrests and detentions of refugees and asylum seekers.
• Pressing for the protection and safety of Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers currently residing in Egypt.
• Demanding the immediate release of all detained individuals and ensuring they have access to healthcare and legal assistance.
• Providing emergency shelter and essential support for those rendered homeless or vulnerable due to these violations.
• Coordinating with international partners to deliver urgent humanitarian aid and uphold the rights and dignity of those affected.
• Facilitating safe and voluntary relocation to third countries where refugees can rebuild their lives in peace and security.

The lives and futures of countless Eritrean refugees hang in the balance. We urge your immediate attention and action to halt these violations and uphold the principles of international human rights and refugee protection, in order to safeguard those at risk.

Respectfully yours

Elizabeth Chyrum

Director,

Human Rights Concern-Eritrea

24 March, 2025