As 816 irregular immigrants from Libya made it to these shores between Monday and Tuesday, thousands of displaced people are still seeking shelter in the desert to the west of the country without the basic necessities, while around 6,200 people cross the Libyan borders every day.

According to figures collated by The Times and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), up until Tuesday 423,000 evacuees, including over 250,000 Third Country Nationals (TCNs) had fled Libya.

It has been reported that more than 16,000 people, mostly Tunisians, made it to Lampedusa and Linosa since the start of the upheaval in Tunisia and the conflict in Libya.

By yesterday, reception facilities in Lampedusa were housing 5,640 Tunisians, although last night it was announced they would be evacuated to mainland Italy. UNHCR reported that the reception conditions remained “critical and tensions were reported both among Tunisians as well as between Tunisians and the local population”.

About 300 people of mainly Eritrean nationality are hosted in Linosa, a small island situated 45 km north-east of Lampedusa.

The chaotic situation in Libya has turned many people into victims of famine, rape and psychological distress. African asylum seekers said they felt targeted because they were perceived as pro-Gaddafi mercenaries.

Libyans who crossed the Egyptian border were diagnosed with severe injuries, taken to the city of Saloum in ambulances provided by the Egyptian government, and were referred to hospitals in Alexandria.

The UNHCR said around 3,000 people are still waiting at Saloum port, while those interviewed by the refugee agency said they left Libya because of the “generalised violence”.

IOM reported that an average of 500 foreigners a day entered Egypt through Libya over the past week.