Italian premier warns of possible surge in irregular migration flow from Tunisia

By Baris Seckin

ROME (AA) - Tunisia faces a "complex" financial situation and irregular migration from that North African country could become unmanageable if it is not provided assistance, Italy's prime minister warned on Wednesday.

Answering lawmakers' questions ahead of the EU Leaders' Summit set to kick off on Thursday, Giorgia Meloni said Italy was working to secure the release of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan to Tunisia.

If help does not come to Tunisia, the flow of irregular migration could reach a level that "no one can manage," she warned.

Noting that she spoke over the phone with EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen on Tuesday, she said they discussed how to help thousands of people in Tunisia avoid bankruptcy.

For years, North African countries such as Tunisia have witnessed attempts by migrants — mainly from sub-Saharan Africa — to reach Europe, hoping for a better life. While some of the migrants manage to reach their destination, others often die during the journey.