A rights group reported on Tuesday that a staggering 1,313 migrants were documented as either deceased or missing along the Tunisian coast in the past year, underscoring the escalating migrant crisis in the North African nation.
This figure accounts for approximately 75% of the total fatalities or disappearances recorded in the waters near Italy, Libya, and Malta, according to Ramadan Ben Amor, an official from the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, as reported to Reuters.
Tunisia has emerged as the primary departure point in North Africa, surpassing Libya, for individuals seeking refuge from poverty and conflict across Africa and the Middle East, as they aspire to build a better life in Europe.
With the weather improving since January, there has been a notable surge in the influx of African migrants, including Tunisians, embarking on perilous journeys towards Italy.
Since mid-January alone, approximately 100 migrants have lost their lives or gone missing off the Tunisian coast, further emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
