TUNIS: At least 11 migrants are dead, while nearly 44 others are reported missing in a shipwreck off Tunisia’s coast, a judicial official reported on Monday. The tragic incident underscores Tunisia’s escalating challenge as a major gateway for irregular migrants and asylum seekers, primarily from other regions of Africa, embarking on perilous sea journeys in hopes of a better future in Europe.
Survivors of the shipwreck, which occurred near Tunisia’s Kerkennah Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, recounted that the makeshift boat had departed over the weekend from a beach north of Sfax, a coastal city, with 57 migrants onboard.
As of Monday afternoon, Faouzi Masmoudi, spokesperson for the court in Sfax, Tunisia’s second-largest city, stated that “four bodies have been recovered, two migrants have been rescued, and 51 are reported missing.” He added that coastguard teams are actively searching for more survivors.
The distance between Sfax and Lampedusa island of Italy is approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles).
Two unrelated sinkings near the Italian island have left at least 30 migrants missing. These boats had also departed from Sfax last week, according to survivor accounts.
Authorities in Tunisia Discovers Bodies of 12 Migrants
Authorities in Tunisia have discovered the bodies of 12 migrants washed ashore north of Sfax between Friday and Sunday. However, it remains unclear whether these cases are connected to the shipwreck near the Kerkennah Islands, situated across from Sfax.
An ongoing investigation is looking into the possibility of other shipwrecks in the area, said Masmoudi.
Tunisia’s interior ministry reported that by July 20 this year, 901 bodies had been recovered from maritime accidents in the Mediterranean, while 34,290 migrants had been rescued or intercepted. The majority of these migrants originated from sub-Saharan African countries.
According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, nearly 90,000 migrants have arrived in Italy this year, with most departing from Tunisia or neighboring Libya. The central Mediterranean route between North Africa and Europe has proven to be the deadliest in the world since 2014, resulting in over 20,000 fatalities, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.
The surge in crossing attempts has been linked to a controversial speech by President Kais Saied, who alleged that sub-Saharan migrants were contributing to crime and posing a demographic threat to Tunisia. Xenophobic attacks targeting black African migrants and students have increased in the country since Saied’s remarks in February.
Recent events have highlighted the plight of migrants in Tunisia. Many have lost jobs and housing, and hundreds were driven out of Sfax following a Tunisian man’s death during an altercation with migrants. Reports indicate that migrants have been taken to remote and perilous areas near the Libyan and Algerian borders, leading to concerns about their safety and well-being.
