ZARZIS, Tunisia (AFP) ― The Tunisian coast guard on Saturday intercepted 90 African migrants whose makeshift boat heading from Libya for the Italian island of Lampedusa broke down off Zarzis, the Red Crescent said.

“At 0500 GMT the Tunisian coast guard rescued 90 African illegal migrants from a makeshift vessel after it broke down off Zarzis” in southern Tunisia, Red Crescent official Mongi Slim said.

The illegal migrants, who included four women and a child, two days ago left the Libyan port of Zwara some 60 kilometers from the border with Tunisia, bound for Italy.

Slim said those rescued were 31 Sudanese, 19 Somalis, 18 Eritreans, 10 Nigerians, six Moroccans and six Chadians.

He said the 90 were now being cared for at Zarzis where they will be housed temporarily by UNHCR refugee agency pending a decision on their fate.