Sudanese Woman Recounts Ordeal Following Expulsion from Tunisia

Summary:

• Sudanese nurse Tafaul Omar and a group of migrants share their distressing experience after being expelled from Tunisia and left at the border with Libya.
• Accusations arise that Tunisia forcefully expelled migrants into the desert, a claim denied by the country's Interior Ministry and President Qa'is.
• The migrants, including Omar and her husband, had embarked on a perilous journey, fleeing conflict and traversing through Chad and Algeria before reaching Tunisia.
• The UN Migration Agency, IOM, has provided aid to some migrants at a Libyan government facility, while concerns persist about the safety and treatment of migrants in the region.

Exhausted, pregnant, and weeping, Sudanese nurse Tafaul Omar shares her harrowing experience after being expelled from Tunisia along with a group of migrants. They were reportedly arrested by Tunisian authorities and abandoned in the border region with Libya, a claim that Tunisia denies.

Stranded in the Desert

Tafaul Omar, a Sudanese nurse, along with 14 other migrants, found themselves stranded in the scorching desert sun after being arrested by Tunisian authorities and left at the border with Libya. She describes the mistreatment and beatings they faced during their time in Tunisia, where they had hoped to continue their journey to Italy.

A Perilous Journey

Omar and her husband, Yassine Adam, fled their home in Cartoom due to warfare, traveling through Chad and Algeria before reaching Tunisia. After their arrest, they were allegedly beaten by the police, had their phones confiscated, and were abandoned in the desert. They embarked on a dangerous journey, walking for hours without a clear direction until they were found by Libyan police.

Accusations and Denials

Tunisia has faced accusations from migrants, Libyan border guards, and rights groups of forcefully expelling migrants into the harsh desert as part of a crackdown. Libya has discovered migrant bodies in the desert, adding to concerns about the migrants' safety. Tunisia's Interior Ministry denies the allegations, with President Qa'is dismissing the reports as misinformation intended to tarnish the country's reputation.

Independent Verification and Assistance

Reuters was unable to independently verify the migrants' accounts. The UN Migration Agency, IOM, has provided aid to around 300 individuals at a Libyan government facility. The situation highlights the challenges faced by migrants seeking safety and better lives, often encountering danger and hardship along the way.

The plight of Tafaul Omar and the group of migrants underscores the difficulties migrants face in their quest for a secure and improved future. The conflicting narratives between Tunisia's denial and the migrants' accounts raise questions about the treatment of migrants and the need for international assistance and cooperation.