On Friday, Egypt started evacuating Egyptians escaping Libya's infighting by sea, sending the first ship to the Libyan-Tunisian border.
Egypt also decided to increase daily evacuation flights to seven as part of an agreement with Tunisian authorities. The total number of returnees by air has is estimated at more than 6,000 and 77,000 through the Salloum land crossing.
Egyptians have been fleeing domestic conflicts between rival armed groups in Libya who have expanded their influence following the ouster of late Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi in 2011.
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Mohamed Gamal Salama, a 24-year-old plasterer, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that Egypt's foreign ministry had warned them against staying in Libya. "They told us to head to the border with Tunisia after bearded Nusra militias invaded our residences and killed some of us. 'Let Sisi help you', they told us", referring to Egypt's president.
Salama related mistreatment by Libyan security forces at the border crossing with Tunisia.
"After we obtained exit clearances, we were told that no Egyptian officials were there to help us get back home," he added.
“We were at a region separating Tunisia and Libya and were neither able to access Tunisia nor return to Libya. When we demonstrated, they shot at us and many of us died,” Al-Gendy al-Saeed, 27, also a plasterer, said.
“We were surprised when a Libyan driving a 4×4 vehicle speed through a rally of Egyptians, killing an unidentified number," he added. "We had no other choice but to climb the fence and return to Libya. One smuggler agreed to return us to Sallum for LE200 each. Instead, they stole our money, mobile phones and clothes. I was one of many who got back to Egypt only with my underwear.”
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
