Mohammed Krubally’s story is one of the many thousands who are trapped in Tunisia. Born in Banjul, the capital city of The Gambia, Krubally, like many in his country, faced financial hardships from a young age. “I never attended school due to financial struggles that my parents were going through,” he recalls. As the eldest of four siblings—an older brother and two sisters—Krubally shouldered the burden of helping his family survive. “I was always on the street selling men's footwear with friends so that I could raise something to take care of myself.” This early life of survival on the streets of The Gambia laid the foundation for what would become a perilous journey across West Africa to North Africa, and ultimately to Tunisia.
Krubally’s odyssey began when he decided to leave The Gambia with a friend, seeking a better life. Their route took them through Senegal, Mali, and Algeria, before they arrived in Tunisia in January 2024. Tragically, his friend, who had been financing the journey, died in the desert between Mali and Algeria. “He was more than a friend—he was like a brother to me,” Krubally says, his voice breaking as he remembers the man who helped him start this journey. “We had dreams, but the desert took him away.”
Upon entering Tunisia, Krubally was immediately confronted with the harsh realities of life as a migrant in a country where xenophobia and violence are rampant. “I received the worst in my life both from the police and the Tunisian citizens,” he says. He managed to find temporary work helping to build a house, but when he asked for payment after two weeks of labor, the response was swift and brutal. “They called the police on me, and I ran away because I didn’t want to be taken to the desert.”
Krubally’s fears were not unfounded. The Tunisian police, notorious for their mistreatment of migrants, arrested him for simply sleeping on the street, and he spent three months in prison. “It was the worst time of my life,” he recounts. “I remember sitting in that hot cell, thinking of my siblings back home, wondering if I would ever see them again.” His struggle to survive continued after his release, as he faced starvation and illness with no means of support. “I am like a little kid, begging for what to eat,” Krubally says, describing the dire conditions he faced daily. “In The Gambia, we were poor, but at least we had each other. Here, I have nothing.”
Krubally’s situation is far from unique. Migrants in Tunisia, particularly those in informal camps outside Sfax, are enduring a humanitarian crisis of shocking proportions. According to testimonies collected from migrants, these camps lack basic necessities such as running water, washing facilities, and toilets. Migrants are forced to live in filthy olive groves where local residents have begun dumping the contents of their septic tanks, leading to severe health risks.
The camp’s volunteer doctor, the only medical help available, fears that an epidemic of typhoid could soon erupt due to the unsanitary conditions. “We have so many breakout diseases. We have up to 567 patients that are affected by Typhoid, Dysentery, Cholera, and Syphilis,” the doctor reported. His concerns are exacerbated by the fact that these migrants, already vulnerable, cannot access medical care outside the camp due to the risk of being attacked or arrested.
The conditions in these camps are nothing short of appalling. Migrants, including women and children, are living in squalor, exposed to the elements, and at constant risk of violence. Women, in particular, face horrific challenges. Many have become pregnant as a result of rape, and now endure difficult pregnancies without access to basic antenatal care. “There are some 200 pregnant women, some suffering from serious sexually transmitted diseases that need powerful antibiotics,” the doctor notes. These women are forced to give birth in dangerous conditions, with babies often born with respiratory problems or soon developing them due to the dusty, unsanitary environment. Newborns are especially vulnerable, with no access to vaccines, clean water, or proper nutrition.
Violence against migrants is also alarmingly common. In Sfax, four young men from Sierra Leone and Liberia were attacked yesterday by local gangs while attempting to fetch water. They were shot at and left with severe injuries. “All four survived but with severe injuries and bullets beneath their backs,” The doctor shares with a heavy heart, highlighting the constant threat of violence faced by migrants.
Another migrant, Jonathan from Nigeria, was brutally attacked by a gang while returning from collecting money for food. His injuries were severe, and like many others, he had no access to proper medical care. Similarly, John, a young man from South Sudan, was severely beaten while trying to protect his sister from an attack after she had been begging for food.
For Krubally, the most devastating moment came when he was once again targeted by the police. After a friend sent him 1,800 dinars to help him cross the sea, the money was confiscated, and he was brutally beaten and left in the desert. “Since then, I don’t have my good health again,” he says, expressing his hopelessness. “I used to be strong, able to work all day, but now I can barely stand without feeling dizzy.” His once strong body has withered away, and he now suffers from ailments that remain undiagnosed due to the lack of medical care. Whether it is Tuberculosis, kidney disease, or pulmonary fibrosis, Krubally’s health is rapidly deteriorating, and he is left without the means to seek treatment.
The medical crisis in Sfax has only deepened since the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) suspended their operations in the area due to persecution by the Tunisian government under dictator Kais Saied. Krubally, like many others, cannot access public hospitals and lacks the funds for private medical care. A volunteer doctor from Sierra Leone has been the only source of medical aid, though his resources are limited. “We cannot solve the entire situation immediately, but at least we can help cure those suffering at the moment,” says the doctor. “But every day, it’s a race against time. We have mothers giving birth in the dirt, young men bleeding from machete wounds, and no clean water to offer them.”
Krubally’s condition is particularly concerning. “He’s lost so much weight, and we’re worried it could be something serious like Tuberculosis or a kidney issue,” the doctor says. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, his future looks bleak. “I don’t want to die here,” Krubally confesses, his voice barely above a whisper. “All I wanted was to find a better life, to be able to send something back to my family. Now, I just pray to survive another day.”
A fundraiser has been launched to provide the volunteer doctor with the necessary medical supplies to treat the wounded, care for pregnant women, and ensure the health of newborns. Contributions are urgently needed to provide basic items such as bandages, antibiotics, menstrual hygiene products, and clean drinking water for the babies.
Krubally’s calls for the awakening of our consciousness and look beyond borders. His journey, marked by loss, violence, and the struggle for survival against all odds, reflects the dire circumstances facing thousands of others trapped in a Tunisia or Libya where their lives are in constant jeopardy. His only wish now is for his health to improve and for the means to sustain himself, a hope that grows dimmer with each passing day.
Please consider donating to the fundraiser and sharing this story with your friends to help those who are desperately in need. Every contribution can make a difference in saving lives and alleviating the suffering of people like Mohammed Krubally.
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