NEW YORK: The United Nations expressed deep concern on Thursday for the safety of hundreds of migrants who have been stranded in Tunisia after being removed to remote areas of the North African country.
The UN referred to the situation as an “unfolding tragedy,” with migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers facing dire conditions near the borders with Libya and Algeria, while some have been forcibly pushed across the border.
The dire situation arose after recent unrest in Tunisia’s second city, Sfax, during which authorities loaded hundreds of migrants onto buses and left them stranded in remote desert regions near Algeria and Libya. Human Rights Watch, an NGO, reported that up to 1,200 Africans were “expelled or forcibly transferred” to the border regions during this period.
UN Voices Concern for Stranded Migrants
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee agency UNHCR issued a joint statement expressing grave concern for the stranded individuals, which include women (some of whom are pregnant) and children. These migrants are enduring extreme heat, without access to shelter, food, or water, and there have already been tragic reports of loss of life among the group.
The UN agencies called for urgent search and rescue efforts to be undertaken for those still stranded on both sides of the border. They emphasized that saving lives must be the priority, and those stranded should be brought to safety immediately. Furthermore, the agencies called on the involved countries to uphold their legal obligations, identify individuals with international protection needs, and provide them with the opportunity to seek asylum. Vulnerable migrants, such as trafficking victims and lone children, should be referred to appropriate services.
Tunisia has become a major transit point for irregular migrants and asylum-seekers attempting dangerous sea voyages in often unsafe boats with hopes of reaching Europe for a better life. The distance between Sfax and Italy’s Lampedusa island is approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles).
