In Tunisia, hundreds of migrants live in dire conditions in makeshift camps set up in olive groves near Sfax. Since the evacuation of downtown Sfax in mid-2023, these migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, have been living without state support. The camps are isolated, with no access to clean water, proper sanitation, or medical assistance. Many migrants suffer from injuries sustained during fights with local Tunisians or between different migrant groups. Others are battling serious diseases such as cholera and typhoid due to poor hygiene and drinking contaminated water.
Life in these camps has become increasingly dangerous, with violence escalating daily. Migrants are forced to drink polluted water meant for irrigating the olive trees. Without access to clean water or food, health conditions have deteriorated rapidly. The group Refugees in Libya has been raising awareness of the situation and recently organized an online fundraiser to collect donations for medical supplies, including antibiotics, bandages, and disinfectants. However, the situation worsened when a middleman disappeared with the donated money, leaving the camps without essential medicines.
Ibrahim, a former anesthesiologist from Sierra Leone, has become the sole doctor for the camps. Alongside a small team of nurses, he does his best to treat injuries and illnesses, often walking long distances between camps with only a stethoscope and blood pressure monitor. Machete wounds are a common occurrence, as migrants arm themselves to defend against attacks. Ibrahim treats these deep wounds with limited resources, and many require surgeries that he cannot perform. He estimates that about 70% of the camp’s residents now carry machetes for self-protection.
Beyond physical injuries, the spread of diseases is also a major concern. Ibrahim has observed numerous cases of cholera, dysentery, and typhoid, diseases that thrive in the camps’ unsanitary conditions. With no way to conduct proper tests, he relies on the symptoms he sees to diagnose patients. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable, with many giving birth in the camps under life-threatening conditions. Some pregnancies are the result of rape, further complicating the medical challenges Ibrahim faces.
The situation for sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia has become even more perilous since President Kaïs Saïed’s speech in early 2023, which sparked xenophobic attacks. Migrants have been denied housing and jobs, forcing them to survive in these camps. A study by the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights revealed that 40% of migrants lack access to clean water, while 70% are in need of food. Despite the overwhelming challenges, Ibrahim continues to do what he can to help the migrants, but the need for more support is urgent.