A judicial official said on Saturday that at least 20 African migrants were missing after their boat sunk off the coast of Tunisia as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, amid a surge of migrant boats from the North African nation.
The coast guard also rescued 17 additional people from the same boat off the shore of Sfax, two of whom are in severe condition, according to Sfax court judge Faouzi Masmousdi.
Several dozens of people have gone missing and killed in drowning incidents off the Tunisian coast in recent weeks.
Tunisia has surpassed Libya as the principal point of departure for individuals escaping poverty and violence in Africa and the Middle East in search of a better life in Europe.
The National Guard said on Friday that over 14,000 migrants, largely from Sub-Saharan Africa, were apprehended or rescued while attempting to cross into Europe in the first three months of the year, five times more than in the same period last year.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned on Friday that if Tunisia’s financial stability is not ensured, Europe risks witnessing a massive influx of refugees from North Africa.
Meloni urged the IMF and other nations to assist Tunisia in avoiding collapse as soon as possible.
Tunisia’s Foreign Minister, Nabil Ammar, said last week that the nation required cash and equipment to improve border security. Tunisia has acquired equipment from Italy in recent years, but according to Ammar, it was old and insufficient.
