An international rescue effort is under way as migrant workers flee violence in Libya by crossing the border into Egypt, Tunisia and Niger. The UN says 200,000 migrant workers are believed to have left Libya.

In Tunisia, the UN refugee council (UNHCR) set up this camp for them near Ras Ajdir.

Refugees in the camps are receiving aid delivered by volunteers and provided by aid agencies. But far fewer migrants are now crossing into Tunisia.

Many of the refugees are Egyptian. There have been desperate scenes in Tunisia as buses ferried the lucky ones from the UN camp to Djerba airport for evacuation flights to Cairo.

Those not so lucky are forced to wait. Britain, France and Spain are among nations sending planes to help the airlift, and medical teams are joining some of the flights.

The Italian government also said it would send ships and planes to help evacuate Egyptian workers back to Cairo. Italy is preparing for a fresh influx of migrants escaping political turmoil in North Africa.

These Pakistani and Bangladeshi workers boarded a plane at Djerba and more flights are planned for Friday and Saturday.

However, some Bangladeshi workers have complained that their government is doing nothing to repatriate them. Relatives of those stuck in Tunisia have staged protests in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.