CNN aired a documentary called “Death in the Dessert”, and being a News junkie there was no way I was going to miss it. After watching it I felt paralyzed, Men and women from Eritrea, Ethiopia , Somalia , Sudan amongst other countries begin a journey with the intention to better their lives. They leave their homes, families and friends behind, with only passports, and little money-if any at all. They cross borders, in rain, heat, and cold with a destination in their minds- The Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. The relevancy of reaching the peninsula for these individuals is simply to cross into different continents especially Israel and for others past Israel. What kind of jobs awaits them you may ask? House helps, laborers etc. You know they are desperate because anything is better than the poverty they in their countries.
Reaching the peninsula, they do not know what awaits them, of course crossing any border requires procedures and protocols. Since they are not legal in the country they opt to climb across the fence that borders Egypt and Israel. Some get shot without warning and others get stranded in the dessert. Mind you the dessert is known for smuggling of contrabands, prostitutes, laborers etc. It is basically lawless and unfortunately the other migrants that choose to not climb across the fence fall into the wrong hands. Some are forced to work as laborers with the promise of taken across the border if they complete their work, others abused, raped, forced into prostitution (men & women ). But amongst these horrifying things they go through I bet you never heard of organ harvesting. Yes, some are captured and offered money in few cases but in most cases their organs are ripped out of them against their consent. Tribesmen in the peninsula make deals with doctors in the city and possibly not only Egypt. They sedate them, take the organs they want then sew them back leaving behind thousands of dead bodies.
If anything they receive a dignifying undignified burial. Those that were found with identifications on them are buried in a cemetery. The Christians in one part and Muslims in another. And the unlucky ones are buried in a nearby land. The bodies keep piling up and there is no space to bury these refugees anymore so they are buried on top of each other.
I’m truly saddened by this story. What people go through in search for a better life and they get that in return. With all this happening in the region I doubt much focus is being put into the investigation of where organs are gotten from in hospitals and private clinics. It has become a business opportunity for others to harvest other individuals for money. The thought of it disgusts me. But then again …
