Da Spicy News Blog of Friday, 28 July 2023
Source: DA Spicy News
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According to Tunisia's interior minister, Kamel Feki, the Tunisian coast guard has retrieved a total of 901 bodies of drowned migrants from January 1 to July 20 this year. This alarming figure represents an unprecedented number of victims found off the coast of Tunisia.
This year, the North African country is experiencing an unprecedented surge in migration, along with frequent tragic incidents involving the sinking of boats carrying migrants from sub-Saharan Africa who are attempting to reach the Italian coasts.
Tunisia has become the primary departure point in the region for individuals seeking to escape poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East, with the goal of finding a better life in Europe. This role was previously held by Libya.
During his address to parliament, Feki reported that out of the 901 bodies discovered, 36 were Tunisians and 267 were foreign migrant individuals. However, the identities of the remaining individuals remained unknown.
The majority of migrant boats depart from the coastal city of Sfax in the south.
In recent months, there has been a significant influx of undocumented migrants in the coastal city of Sfax. Their objective is to embark on boats operated by human traffickers, as they seek to reach Europe. This surge of migrants has resulted in an unprecedented migration crisis for Tunisia.
According to official data, as of July 14, a total of 75,065 boat migrants had arrived in Italy. This number is significantly higher compared to the 31,920 migrants who arrived during the same period last year. More than half of the people left Tunisia.
In July, the European Union and Tunisia signed a comprehensive agreement aimed at addressing the surge in boats departing from Tunisia for Europe. The deal focuses on combating human traffickers and strengthening sea borders to effectively manage this issue.