Egyptian president vows to combat illegal migration

Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said on Monday that illegal migration must be combated whether to or from Egypt.

He made the remarks in an aired TV speech, saying the issue is something that Egypt cannot face alone, and stressing the country cannot be a state of refugees.

Sisi also said that there is no justification or excuse for such death of human beings from Egypt and abroad, referring to the migration boat tragedy last week, urging young people to have hope and not seek to migrate.

While the world leaders including Sisi gathered in New York to seek solutions for immigration problems last Wednesday, a migration boat carrying hundreds capsized off Egypt's northern coast of Rosetta.

As many as 178 bodies have been retrieved so far, state-run newspaper al-Ahram reported Monday.

Addressing those who wish to migrate, Sisi urged them to stay in their homeland, affirming that there are job opportunities in Egypt.

Illegal migration via Egyptian Mediterranean Sea shores rose over the past few years in attempts to reach Europe and flee difficult economic conditions in the financially-struggling Arab country, where unemployment rate hits 12.5 percent according to official reports. Endit