Tunisia witnesses grim reality as over 1,300 irregular migrants lost at sea in 2023

Tunisian rights group reports over 1,300 illegal migrants from Tunisia died or lost crossing the Mediterranean Sea

A Tunisian rights group shared research on Tuesday that shows that more than 1,300 people illegal migrants from Tunisia died crossing the Mediterranean Sea.

At a news gathering, Islem Ghaarbi, a migration expert for the Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights, gave the shocking number. The situation is a terrible turning point in the migrant disaster, as Ghaarbi said, “1,313 people died or disappeared off the Tunisian coast, a figure that has never been reached in Tunisia.”

Most of the people who drowned were from sub-Saharan Africa, which Ghaarbi said showed how dangerous their journey to Europe was as the number equals half of all deaths and disappearances in the Mediterranean in 2023.

According to the UN Organization for Migration (IOM), 2,498 people died or went missing while trying to cross the central Mediterranean last year, a figure 75% higher than in 2022.

Many people risk their lives to leave Tunisia and Libya for a better life in Europe. The World Organization Against Torture recently released a report on widespread mistreatment of migrants and refugees in Tunisia, such as house searches and forced relocations.

The problem is worse in Tunisia specifically because the country is in bad shape economically. The number of people seeking refuge in European countries escalated, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, after President Kais Saied called illegal immigrants a population threat in February.

The situation of illegal immigrants shows how important it is to take immediate, all-encompassing steps to deal with the root causes of movement and protect the safety and respect of those dangerously seeking a better life. More than ever, the world must work together to help Tunisia deal with its economic problems and rising migration waves.

Source: AFP