By Mehmet Akif Turan
TUNIS, Tunisia (AA) – The bodies of two irregular migrants who were aboard boats that capsized off the coast of Tunisia were recovered while 180 others were rescued, authorities said Wednesday.
"In four irregular migration attempts thwarted off the coast of Sfax city, the bodies of two migrants were recovered and 180 migrants were rescued. Search and rescue operations by security forces are ongoing,” the Tunisian National Guard’s General Directorate said in a statement.
The statement also noted that 12 people involved in organizing migration attempts were detained and three boats and fuel were seized.
The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights said in February that 1,300 Tunisian irregular migrants went missing during migration attempts in 2023, while over 17,000 irregular migrants attempting to cross to Europe by sea successfully reached Europe.
Thousands of African irregular migrants annually reach Tunisia, bordered by Libya and Algeria, aiming to reach Europe via the Mediterranean for a better life.
Lampedusa Island, Italy's closest landmass to North Africa along the irregular migration route in the Central Mediterranean, is around 130 kilometers (81 miles) from the Tunisian coast.
The Tunisian city of Sfax stands out as a prominent location where irregular migrants frequently attempt to reach Lampedusa.
Last September, the European Commission announced the allocation of €27 million ($29.5 million) in aid to Tunisia under a memorandum of understanding aimed at reducing irregular migration.
*Writing by Seda Sevencan