More than 170 Gambians are known to be among over 2000 African migrants deported and abandoned in the Sahara desert.

Ebrima Drammeh, Italy-based Gambian 

pro-migrants activist said: “more than 2,000 African migrants are deported and abandoned in the Saharadesert yesterday near the border between Algeria and Niger and I can confirm more than 170 Gambian migrants are among them and stuck in the desert at the moment.”

Meanwhile, he also said a rescue ship Sea-Watch 3 “started disembarking the more than 300 people its crew rescued over the past week in Pozzallo, southern Italy.”

He added: “The Mare Jonio was also granted permission to disembark its 92 rescued migrants in Pozzallo. And 37 of them are Gambian.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba