Tunisian authorities dismantled several makeshift camps on Friday that had been sheltering thousands of undocumented migrants from sub-Saharan African countries in the towns of Al-Amra and Jebeniana, located in the eastern governorate of Sfax.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the camps were set up in olive groves and had served as temporary refuge for migrants who had arrived over recent months, fleeing insecurity and economic hardship in their home countries.

The dismantling came in the wake of an intense social media campaign in Tunisia, where users called for the deportation of irregular migrants, citing perceived “demographic and security risks.”

Security forces oversaw the evacuation process, although authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the fate of the migrants after the camps’ removal. Meanwhile, human rights organizations expressed concern over the move, urging the government to uphold international human rights standards and provide protection for vulnerable populations.

Sfax has emerged as a key departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe by sea, particularly Italy. The city remains at the center of Tunisia’s increasingly tense migration debate.