They are hoping to reach Europe and have set up camp there after being forcibly removed from Sfax, a city known as a hub for irregular migration to Europe.

The migrants, including a 17-year-old named Ibrahim from Guinea, have been surviving on meager rations and are waiting for their chance to make the perilous crossing to Europe.

Sfax is one of Tunisia's main departure points for migrants making the journey by boat.

A man described his journey walking from Algeria's border to El-Amra, Tunisia, three months ago during midwinter.

He mentioned the challenges of living there, including having to shop in secret and the fear of employers calling the police when it's time to be paid.

Last year, anti-migrant violence led to hundreds of sub-Saharan Africans losing their jobs and homes.

In 2023, tens of thousands left from Sfax due to its proximity to Italy and the hope of reaching Europe.

The man noted that Lampedusa island, with Europe only a few kilometers away, adds to their desire to cross the sea.

He also shared that groups of migrants live in tents, sharing sleeping spaces with up to ten others.

A large group of African migrants, primarily from Cameroon, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Sudan, gather together based on language.

They cook stew while men pluck feathers from chickens.

Ibrahim, a migrant, shares that despite the harsh winter, they survived due to solidarity among African communities.

They purchased tarpaulins through money sent by relatives or begging.

In April, 7,000 migrants received their first food aid in months from NGOs, but they called for more assistance.

Romdhane Ben Amor, spokesperson for the Tunisian NGO FTDES, stated that Tunisia is becoming a de facto detention center due to border control agreements signed with the EU.

In the encampments near Jebeniana, Tunisia, hygiene is a major issue with many births and sicknesses reported.

A humanitarian source mentioned one migrant birth per day at a local hospital.

Salima, a 17-year-old mother of a four-month-old baby, shared that she had no diapers and used plastic bags instead.

The resumption of departures for Europe has been delayed due to bad weather, but Salima remains determined to make the crossing.

Tunisian authorities recently raided several encampments, tearing down tents and displacing some migrants, following reports of thefts.

Journalists observed destroyed tents, used tear gas canisters, and bulldozers at the site, with some tents already being rebuilt.

A 22-year-old migrant named Sokoto, who had entered from Algeria last January, expressed frustration with the police.

Yesterday in El-Amra, Mohamed Bekri, a resident, shared that he was chased from shops due to his efforts to provide food and water to migrants.

The migrants, including young babies, expressed their unwillingness to return to their countries despite the challenging conditions.

Sokoto, another migrant, explained that he had left to help his family but faced hardships and cannot go back now.