17 Tunisians missing after migrant boat capsizes on way to Italy

17 Tunisians missing after migrant boat capsizes on way to Italy

Published February 12,2024


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At least 17 Tunisian nationals have been reported lacking after their migrant vessel capsized off the northern coast of the North African nation, a neighborhood official mentioned on Monday.

The lacking folks, together with a five-year-old baby, had set sail final week on a fishing boat from Bizerte, a Mediterranean port metropolis within the nation’s north, Houssem Eddine Jebabli, the spokesperson for the Tunisian National Guard, informed native media.

Search and rescue operations for the irregular migrants are ongoing, Jebabli mentioned, including that members of the family mentioned their boat sunk after crossing the maritime border with Italy.

In 2023, a complete of 1,300 Tunisian irregular migrants have been reported lacking, whereas greater than 17,000 irregular migrants trying to cross to Europe by sea had reached the continent, in keeping with a press release issued on Feb. 6 by the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights.

North African international locations like Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Morocco have witnessed makes an attempt for years by migrants — primarily from sub-Saharan Africa — to achieve Europe.

Source: www.anews.com.tr