Biran Gaye
Several Gambian migrants continue to sleep in the streets of Algiers, Algeria as local police arrested a dozen of their counterparts, ushering in an unending uncertainty to those stranded, says a migration activist.
Ebrima Drammeh said Algerian police raided the migrants in their makeshift residence. Many of them got injured when they were captured and pulled back to the port of Sfax, where they were reportedly beaten, handcuffed, and robbed of their phones and personal belongings.
“While the police are chasing us in the forest where we normally sleep, they have arrested many of us,” the migrants said in a video circulating on social media.
“We don’t know the exact number yet. We are really suffering here honestly, and things are getting harder every day and night.”
According to Drammeh, the migrants are currently residing around the perimeter fence of the International Organisation for Migration office in Algiers.
He said IOM committed to facilitating the reintegration of these migrants back to the country, but could not provide the migrants with accommodation nor other humanitarian services like food and medical care.
IOM booked a flight for these migrants, which would leave Algiers on August 15, says activist Drammeh, as the migrants brace up for uncertainty and dire circumstances that continue to grip their stay in the North African country.
These migrants, including 3 children and 4 women, were captured at sea by the Tunisian National Guards and later dumped at the Algerian desert by Tunisian police with very little food and water. They later walked a long distance to reach Algeria after being loaded into big buses and thrown into the Algerian desert without food, water, or shelter.
