The Egyptian Front for Human Rights welcomes the upcoming official visit of Mr. Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, to Egypt from 8 to 17 February 2026. We recognize this visit as a critical opportunity to assess Egypt’s compliance with international human rights standards regarding access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities.
While we acknowledge the Government’s invitation and stated commitment to implementing these fundamental human rights, we urge the Special Rapporteur to pay particular attention to the situation within Egyptian detention facilities, where violations of the rights to water and sanitation remain systematic and severe. The right to water and sanitation is not a privilege; it is a fundamental human right that must be guaranteed to all persons, including those deprived of liberty. Based on testimonies collected from multiple new Egyptian prisons, the current situation in Egyptian prisons represents a systematic failure to uphold these rights and inflicts unnecessary suffering on thousands of detainees.
Contaminated and Unsafe Water Supply
“The water comes out of the hose while it is black from the intensity of pollution… This water is not suitable for drinking at all because it does not pass through sterilization stages. There is no chlorine in it.” A Testimony
In Wadi El-Natrun New Prison, detainees report that tap water is heavily contaminated and unchlorinated, with pipes turning black from pollution. Detainees confirmed that the water fails to meet basic safety standards for human consumption. Similar conditions exist in Badr 1 and Badr 3, where tap water is described as unsuitable for drinking due to excessive impurities. Some testimonies suggest that treated wastewater may be the source of water in these facilities.
Forced Dependence on Expensive Bottled Water
“There are people inside prisons who don’t have money, their families are poor… How will they get water? Without food or anything. That’s the drinking water problem.” A Testimony
The contamination of tap water forces detainees to purchase bottled water from prison canteens at exorbitant prices, 10 Egyptian pounds per bottle and 115 pounds per case in Wadi El-Natrun. For prisoners with kidney disease and other chronic conditions requiring clean water, this represents an impossible financial burden. Moreover, prison authorities arbitrarily restrict the quantity of bottled water detainees can purchase, sometimes limiting access to as little as one or two bottles per week. In Badr 3, detainees face severe restrictions determined by State Security officials, creating a situation where access to safe drinking water depends on financial means and arbitrary administrative decisions rather than being recognized as a fundamental human right. Many detainees lack the financial resources to purchase bottled water regularly, particularly those from impoverished families or those denied family visits and thus unable to receive money transfers.
Denial of Adequate Sanitation
In Badr 1, chronic sewage system blockages have persisted since the prison’s opening, with inadequate bathroom facilities for the large number of detainees. The infrastructure was never designed to accommodate current detention numbers, resulting in recurring sanitation crises.
Water as a Tool of Punishment and Control
Prison authorities use water access as a mechanism of control and collective punishment. In Badr 3, detainees in certain sections are denied both family visits and canteen access, effectively cutting off their ability to obtain safe drinking water through any means. This deliberate deprivation of access to safe water constitutes a form of ill-treatment.
The Egyptian Front urges the Special Rapporteur to conduct visits to detention facilities across Egypt to independently assess water and sanitation conditions and calls upon the Egyptian government to immediately take measures to ensure that all detainees have access to sufficient quantities of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities, without discrimination and financial barriers.