Published 2023-07-12 22:36
Over 600 migrants forced into a desert area in southern Tunisia have been rescued by the Red Crescent.
The migrants were driven away or fled the port city of Sfax since unrest broke out following clashes between residents of the city and migrants from sub-Saharan countries in early July. Many of them were bused by security forces to a desert area near the border with Libya where they were left stranded without food or water.
Abdellatif Chabou, head of the Tunisian Red Crescent, says the aid organization has been given permission to pick up the migrants and provide them with humanitarian aid. Since last Sunday, 630 migrants have been taken care of.
Smaller groups of migrants are still said to be stranded near the borders with Algeria and Libya.
Sfax, Tunisia’s second largest city, is the starting point for many African migrants hoping to reach Italy and the EU by sea.