Sudanese refugees at border (archives)
צילום: רויטרס
Body of African youth found at Egyptian border
Police believe youth possibly Sudanese refugee who died of dehydration
The body of a youth, most likely a Sudanese refugee who infiltrated into Israel, was found Thursday night near the Egyptian border.
Ofakim police reported that no signs of violence were found on the youth's body, and it is believed that the refugee suffered dehydration in the heavy heat in the area.
The body was sent to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir in order to determine the cause of death and possibly obtain information on the youth's identity.
The possibility that the boy was an Egyptian citizen crossing into Israel is also being examined. So far, the police have received no report of a missing person.
In recent months, hundreds of Sudanese refugees have crossed the Egyptian border into Israel.
Last week, Israel sent 50 African infiltrators back to Egypt. Some of the infiltrators were Sudanese refugees from Darfur.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert praised the cooperation with Egypt saying, "President Mubarak is upholding agreements we made in private in Sharm a-Sheik. This is an indication that the illegal entrance of Africans into Israel will no longer be so free."
