UN Experts Alarmed by Human Rights Violations in Egypt
A group of United Nations (UN) experts has raised urgent concerns regarding the ongoing violations against migrants and refugees in Egypt. In a press release dated March 6, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Gehad Madi, alongside other esteemed colleagues including Siobhán Mullally, the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, and Graeme Reid, the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, highlighted a range of serious human rights abuses. The experts specifically pointed to deportation campaigns, arbitrary detentions, and a significant lack of protection for individuals on the move. Their statement reflects a deep concern for the precarious situation faced by refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt, noting that practices such as arbitrary arrests and deportations are unjustly targeting refugee communities within their homes, workplaces, and even in service centres designed to aid them. Furthermore, they expressed alarm over the risk of refoulement—an act which forces individuals back to countries where they face danger—affecting both documented and undocumented migrants. The experts reminded Egyptian authorities that any decisions related to deportation must be grounded in a thorough individual assessment of each person’s protection needs and human rights obligations, urging adherence to vital principles such as non-refoulement, the best interests of the child, non-discrimination, and the right to family life. This latest UN intervention follows previous calls for action from organizations like Amnesty International and the UN experts' earlier communications on the subject.
Israel's Supreme Court Halts NGO Ban in Gaza and West Bank
In a significant legal development, Israel's Supreme Court has temporarily suspended the government's recent directive that aimed to halt the operations of numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Gaza and the West Bank. On February 27, the Court ruled that the ban, initially imposed on 37 international NGOs at the end of December 2025, should be frozen pending a final decision. This ruling arose in response to a petition filed by 17 NGOs and the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA), who warned of the dire humanitarian impacts the ban would have on their critical work in the region. The Danish Refugee Council, an ECRE member organization affected by the ban, expressed relief over the ruling, stating that it paves the way for constructive dialogue and ensures that life-saving aid can be delivered consistently and with integrity to civilians in need. AIDA's Executive Director, Athena Rayburn, indicated that the NGOs are cautiously optimistic, yet still await clarity on how the injunction will be interpreted by the state and its implications for their operations.
In Lebanon, the UN has disclosed that nearly 700,000 individuals are currently displaced due to the ongoing conflict with Israel. As of March 10, the UN Refugee Agency (UNCHR) reported that over 667,000 people have registered on the government's online displacement platform, marking an alarming increase of over 100,000 in just one day. Many displaced individuals are seeking shelter in government-designated collective sites, while others are reliant on temporary accommodations with relatives or friends. The UNHCR has echoed the urgent need for international humanitarian law to be upheld and for aid funding to be prioritized, stressing the importance of providing effective and sustainable support to those most affected by the escalating violence. Meanwhile, a recent incident in Morocco involving violence in Casablanca has sparked concerns over the lack of integration for migrants, particularly from Sub-Saharan Africa, amidst rising tensions exacerbated by inadequate local management of migration issues.
Furthermore, two European Commissioners have recently visited Senegal to negotiate a new agreement with the West African nation, aimed at enhancing cooperation on shared challenges, including investment, security, and migration. Their visit included the handover of new patrol boats to Senegal's National Police and Gendarmerie, which is expected to bolster maritime security, improve migration management, and combat organized crime. This move represents a significant step forward in fostering a robust partnership between the EU and Senegal in addressing complex migration dynamics.
As reported by ecre.org.
