DHAKA: Human Rights Watch on Sunday urged Saudi authorities to launch a probe into violence that accompanied a crackdown launched last month against illegal migrant workers.

It also warned of a ‘humanitarian disaster’ if the workers remain held in deportation centres across the Gulf kingdom, reports TDS.

Saudi authorities had announced the death in November of four people, two Saudis, a Sudanese and another foreigner, in clashes with illegal workers.

Addis Ababa had said three Ethiopians were killed in clashes.

The campaign, which started on November 4 after a seven-month amnesty for illegal workers to formalise their status or leave Saudi Arabia, had aroused tensions between the authorities and communities in the country.

On Friday, police said a group of Ethiopians held at a deportation centre in the western city of Jeddah escaped to a highway in the city where they gathered briefly before authorities recaptured them.

No casualties were reported in this incident.

‘Saudi authorities say they are carrying out a crackdown on migrant workers humanely, but keeping thousands of people in makeshift centres without adequate food, shelter, or medical attention could lead to humanitarian disaster,’ said HRW’s Joe Stork.

‘Saudi officials should release the detainees or send them home immediately.’

BDST: 1915 HRS, DEC 01, 2013