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Eritrean Refugees In Malta: Four Admitted To A Mental Hospital |
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By Cairo, Egypt -
Sep 02, 2002
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Gedab News has learned that the Eritrean 'boat people' who ended up in Malta from the shores of North Africa are distressed by the unfolding drama of their unknown future. Today their appeal has been rejected, said Mr. J. Abela, who is representing their case in Malta. Gedab has contacted some of the stranded Eritreans who urged the Eritrean communities, International Organizations and religious institutions to appeal to their respective governments on their behalf. On a telephone conversation, a refugee was terrified and asked: we cannot go back to the same place where we fled from." Awate also learned from some refugees that they have decided to go on a hunger strike starting September 3, in protest against the decision to deny that denied them refugee status. Most of the refugees arrived to Malta after trekking across the Sahara desert to Libya and then to Malta on boats. The majority of the refugees are youth who fled Eritrea to avoid forced conscription and forced labor. It is very common in Eritrea to be forcibly drafted for an indefinite period of time. Many youth have been forced into the Army for more than six-years and are still not released.
An Eritrean who is following the refugee case closely said, Several activists in Europe are engaged in keeping the refugees' hopes high by appealing to human rights organization to intervene as soon as they can. Some of the Eritrean refugees in Malta, who number 370 people, have been there for more than six-months; others were rescued on July 24, 2002, from the international waters in the Mediterranean Sea by merchant ships who found them drifting in high sea packed in a small boat. Four of the refugees are already admitted in a mental hospital after suffering from anxiety and appalling situation in the camps. Policemen with dogs tightly guard the camps where food is very scarce and living conditions are worse. A refugee from the Halfar camp said, So far, four babies were born in the camps and there are some more pregnant women with us. The refugees are kept in four camps: Halfar, Air force camp, Tekendia camp and police training camp. |
