Thirteen bodies of Sudanese migrants have been retrieved, and 27 individuals remain unaccounted for following the sinking of a boat off the Tunisian coast on Wednesday.
The vessel, which embarked from Sfax, was carrying a total of 42 passengers, all of Sudanese origin. Judge Farid Ben Jha reported that two individuals have been successfully rescued.
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, with aspirations of a better life in Europe.
Over the past year, Tunisia has experienced an unprecedented surge in migration, marked by frequent tragedies involving boats sinking along its coast, transporting migrants from sub-Saharan Africa in their quest to reach Italy.
In 2023, the Tunisian coast guard recovered the remains of nearly 1,000 migrants who had drowned off its shores, marking a record high in comparison to previous years.
Notably, Tunisians themselves have joined the ranks of those attempting the perilous sea journey. Last month, approximately 40 Tunisian migrants went missing after embarking on a boat destined for Italy, highlighting the multifaceted dimensions of the migration crisis in the region.
