A Stand in the Sinai | CNN

CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
Ad Feedback
World
Africa
Americas
Asia
Australia
China
Europe
India
Middle East
United Kingdom
Africa Americas Asia Australia China Europe India Middle East United Kingdom
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español

Africa
Americas
Asia
Australia
China
Europe
India
Middle East
United Kingdom

Follow CNN
Download the CNN App

  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Elections 2026
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Headlines
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Subscribe
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Advertise With Us
    • Work for CNN

Download the CNN App

Refugees endure living hell for a dream

Updated 1:15 PM EDT, Wed September 19, 2012
Link Copied!
Eritrean refugees show the scars they say were caused by people traffickers melting plastic on their backs.
A Stand in the Sinai —
Eritrean refugees show the scars they say were caused by people traffickers melting plastic on their backs.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
The refugees are trying to get into Israel but the traffickers hold them captive and force them to contact relatives for ransom money.
A Stand in the Sinai —
The refugees are trying to get into Israel but the traffickers hold them captive and force them to contact relatives for ransom money.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
Sheikh Mohammed Abu Billal, who operates a safe house for captives who manage to escape the traffickers, sits with CNN's Fred Pleitgen.
A Stand in the Sinai —
Sheikh Mohammed Abu Billal, who operates a safe house for captives who manage to escape the traffickers, sits with CNN's Fred Pleitgen.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
Bedouin Sheiks Mohammed Abu Billal (left) and Ibrahim al Munai have banded together to fight human traffickers who operate torture camps in the Sinai. Their efforts have lead to a significant decrease in people traffickers.
A Stand in the Sinai —
Bedouin Sheiks Mohammed Abu Billal (left) and Ibrahim al Munai have banded together to fight human traffickers who operate torture camps in the Sinai. Their efforts have lead to a significant decrease in people traffickers.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
The refugees cross the unforgiving Sinai Desert following the dream of a better life in Israel but the traffickers can turn that into a living hell.
A Stand in the Sinai —
The refugees cross the unforgiving Sinai Desert following the dream of a better life in Israel but the traffickers can turn that into a living hell.
Ian Lee/CNN
One horrific case CNN was told about was Cecilia. The New Generation Foundation for Human Rights says the baby was born in the traffickers' torture camps and her head was burned to the skull by the rapist who fathered her.
A Stand in the Sinai —
One horrific case CNN was told about was Cecilia. The New Generation Foundation for Human Rights says the baby was born in the traffickers' torture camps and her head was burned to the skull by the rapist who fathered her.
New Generation Foundation for Human Rights
A woman rests after reaching the Sinai safe house. This woman, unlike many held at the trafficking camps, was not raped.
A Stand in the Sinai —
A woman rests after reaching the Sinai safe house. This woman, unlike many held at the trafficking camps, was not raped.
CNN

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Elections 2026
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Headlines
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Subscribe
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Advertise With Us
    • Work for CNN

World
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account
Follow CNN

Download the CNN app
Download the CNN app

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Advertise With Us Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts Sitemap

© 2026 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from Google Play.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.