World News

23 missing off Tunisia on route to Europe

In a statement released on Saturday, the National Guard of Tunisia reported that a group of twenty-three individuals has been missing for the past two weeks while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe.

Searches are still ongoing, according to the National Guard, which is responsible for the coastguard in the North African country. The group left in early May.

The statement revealed that the voyage commenced during the night of 3 and 4 May from the city of Nabeul. It further mentioned that the authorities were only informed by the missing individuals' relatives a whole 10 days after the incident occurred.

Following instructions from Nabeul prosecutors, the National Guard has apprehended five individuals suspected of orchestrating the crossing.

According to reports, two of the missing individuals have been identified as relatives of the event organizers.

Tunisia serves as a crucial starting point for migrants who embark on dangerous sea voyages in search of a better life in Europe.

Last year, over 1,300 individuals tragically lost their lives or went missing in shipwrecks, as reported by the non-governmental organization, the Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights (FTDES).

In a recent update, officials have revealed a significant surge in migrant interceptions. The numbers show a staggering 22.5 per cent increase, with over 21,000 individuals being stopped from departing Tunisia or being rescued during the initial four months of 2024.

The National Guard reported that there was an increase in the number of people intercepted between 1 January and 30 April, with 21,545 individuals being intercepted this year compared to 17,576 during the same period last year.

In the span of just one year, the number of shipwreck victims recovered has seen a significant increase. As of 1 January, a total of 291 bodies have been retrieved, compared to 572 in the previous year. This rise in numbers can be attributed to the nearly tripled amount of operations conducted this year, with a staggering 1,967 operations taking place, as opposed to 686 in 2023.

According to official figures from the Italian government, Tunisians were the second largest group of irregular migrant arrivals in Italy last year, with a total of 17,304 people. The only group that surpassed them was Guineans, with 18,204 arrivals.

Following agreements between Tunisia and the European Union and Italy, there has been a noticeable rise in interceptions. These agreements involve financial aid and economic cooperation deals, with the aim of curbing migrant departures from the debt-ridden country.

In July 2021, Tunisia experienced political tensions when President Kais Saied executed a significant power grab, causing a stir in the country.