CAIRO: A total of 238 people in a fishing boat were arrested Sunday while heading to Italy from Burullus city in the Delta’s Kafr el-Sheikh by naval forces and border guards, according to a military statement.
Migrants leaving fishing boat in Damietta Oct. 25 – Military spokesperson Facebook page
One hundred Egyptians were on board of the boat and 138 migrants from Iraq, Somalia, Congo, Ethiopia, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, and Comoros.
Border guards reported to Port Said naval base that a fishing boat is suspected to be in an illegal trip to Europe; the base dispatched two vessels to trace the boat.
Migrants leaving fishing boat at Damietta port Oct. 25 – Egypt’s Defense Ministry website
The boat was escorted to Damietta port, where the passengers were provided with medical assistance and food before they were referred to the prosecution, according to Youm7.
Medical assistance provided to migrants Oct. 25 – Egypt’s Defense Ministry website
On Sunday, Egypt witnessed a wave of bad weather and sailing was banned at many shores, especially at the Mediterranean.
Migrants at Damietta port Oct. 25 – Facebook page of military spokesperson
Earlier in October, the owner of a fishing boat was arrested after 10 Syrian and Iraqi asylum seekers drowned after his boat sank. The boat had 35 migrants on while heading to Italy from Kafr el-Sheikh.
Egyptian Minister of Justice Ahmed el-Zend announced Oct. 23 that Egypt will found a court specialized in human trafficking and illegal immigration.
In an Oct. 13 statement, military spokesperson Mohamed Samir reported that 2,215 people were arrested in illegal immigration attempts in September, both in cities on the Mediterranean and at the Egyptian-Libya borders.
Egypt arrests dozens almost on weekly basis for attempting to travel illegally to Europe through the Delta’s Mediterranean shores. It is uncertain how many manage to escape Egyptian guards into the sea.