Libyan border guards have come to the rescue of dozens of migrants who were left stranded in the desert without water and food by Tunisian authorities, according to an officer on Sunday.

The number of migrants being stranded in these harsh conditions is increasing, with hundreds of migrants from sub-Saharan African countries being forcibly taken to desert areas near the Libya-Algeria border following racial unrest in Sfax, Tunisia's second-largest city.

Reporters from AFP witnessed exhausted and dehydrated migrants, some using shrubs to shield themselves from the scorching summer heat of over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

The migrants were found close to Al-Assah, a town near the Tunisia-Libya border. The officer, Mohamad Abou Snenah, mentioned that the number of migrants they have saved is continuously rising, stating that they have already rescued 50 to 70 migrants.

Medical attention and first aid are being provided due to the arduous journey these migrants have made through the desert. At a reception centre, AFP correspondents observed women and children, including toddlers, lying on mattresses and eating yogurt.

One Ivorian migrant, Abou Kouni, who had arrived in Tunisia seven years ago, revealed that he and his wife were apprehended on the street and forcibly put on a truck. He shared that he was physically assaulted and threatened by the police during this ordeal.

Tunisian police allegedly informed him that they were going to throw them into Libya, further stating, "We don't need you in Tunisia." A video shared online also showed an officer saying, "Do you see them? It's sad. They are being expelled from Tunisia to Libya."

Another migrant, Ibrahim from Congo, recounted how he was stopped on the street and left in the desert. He explained that they had been in the desert for many days and were only able to survive thanks to the help of a shepherd who provided them with bread and water.

The tensions in Sfax arose following the killing of a Tunisian man on July 3, which led to a surge of racial tensions between locals and migrants. Libya has long been known for human trafficking, taking advantage of the chaos since the overthrow of former leader Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, and the country has faced accusations of migrant abuse.

Tunisian rights groups reported that approximately 100 to 150 migrants, including women and children, were still stuck on the border with Libya. The Tunisian Red Crescent has provided shelter to over 600 migrants who were transported to the militarized Ras Jedir zone along the Mediterranean coast.

On the other hand, the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) disclosed that about 165 migrants abandoned near the Algerian border were rescued, although they did not specify who rescued them or where they were taken.