Amnesty International on Thursday accused Egypt of deporting hundreds of Syrian refugees who have fled to Egypt since the outbreak of the civil war.
In a statement, the organisation said Egypt is illegally detaining hundreds of Syrian and Palestinian refugees who fled the conflict that broke out in Syria in March 2011.
Amnesty International said that hundreds who have fled the bloodshed in Syria for sanctuary in Egypt — including many children without their parents — face prolonged detention in poor conditions or deportation, which has in some cases separated family members.
"Instead of offering vital help and support to refugees from Syria, the Egyptian authorities are arresting and deporting them, flouting human rights standards," said Sherif al-Sayed-Ali, Amnesty's head of refugee and migrants' rights.
"Failing to help and protect them is a stain on the reputation of Egypt and could seriously damage its image as a key stakeholder in the region," he added.
The group said that its members found one-year-old Syrian twins among refugees in Egypt's custody. They have been detained since 17 September. A nine-year old girl from Aleppo was also detained and prevented from seeing her mother for four days.
Amnesty International cited lawyers as saying that they were prevented from defending some refugees while the UNHCR has failed to reach the refugees.
More than 100,000 Syrians arrived in Egypt and some of them attempted to immigrate to Europe on unsafe boats.
The Egyptian navy has intercepted at least 13 boats with Syrian refugees trying to reach Europe. According to the latest UNHCR figures, 946 people have been arrested by the Egyptian authorities while attempting the crossing and 724, including women, children and men, remain in detention.
Edited translation from AFP
