TUNIS: Thirteen bodies believed to be of sub-Saharan African migrants have been found dead off the eastern coast of Tunisia, a judicial official said on Wednesday.
The dead bodies were found near the coastal towns of Salakta and Chebba on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Farid Ben Jha, spokesman for the public prosecution in the Monastir and Mahdia governorates.
An investigation into the incident has been launched, although further details have not yet been disclosed. This tragic incident highlights the continuing humanitarian crisis faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe via perilous sea routes.
Tunisia and its neighbor Libya have become significant departure points for thousands of migrants, many of whom undertake dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean in search of better opportunities.
The treacherous crossing often leads them to Italy, with Lampedusa island—only 150 kilometers (90 miles) from Tunisia—serving as a common initial destination.
According to Tunisia’s interior ministry, at least 103 makeshift boats have capsized since January 1, resulting in the recovery of 341 bodies along Tunisia’s coastline.
Last year alone, more than 1,300 people died or went missing in shipwrecks off the North African nation, as reported by the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), a human rights group.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has documented over 30,309 migrant deaths in the Mediterranean over the past decade, with more than 3,000 fatalities recorded in just the last year.
