Tunisian Coast Guard Rescues Over 100 Asylum Seekers Bound for Italy

© AP Photo / STRMigrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, are stopped by Tunisian Maritime National Guard at sea during an attempt to get to Italy, near the coast of Sfax, Tunisia, Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
Migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, are stopped by Tunisian Maritime National Guard at sea during an attempt to get to Italy, near the coast of Sfax, Tunisia, Tuesday, April 18, 2023. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 16.07.2023
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This new rescue operation comes shortly before the arrival in Tunisia this afternoon of a high-level European delegation, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte, for their second visit since last June.
In an operation near the Sfax province coast, the Tunisian coast guard successfully rescued 108 asylum seekers who were attempting to cross the Mediterranean to reach Italy, as reported by Al Jazeera on Sunday.
During the rescue operation, the Tunisian coast guard encountered a volatile situation when four asylum seekers attempted to attack the personnel and wreaked havoc by pouring gasoline on the deck of the maritime patrol boat. These individuals were subsequently apprehended.
Moreover, the Tunisian authorities have been actively responding to incidents in the region. Just last Thursday, they retrieved the bodies of 13 illegal migrants and saved 25 others after their vessel sank off the coast of Sfax. The authorities also managed to foil another recent attempt by migrants from sub-Saharan Africa to cross the sea border.

Sfax, the second-largest city in Tunisia, has become a departure point for many undocumented migrants from sub-Saharan Africa aiming to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Italy.

Interestingly, Sunday's rescue operation occurred just before the arrival of a European delegation led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. This visit marks their second trip to the north African country since June of last year.
Sub-saharan migrants camp in front of the International Organization for Migration office as they seek shelter and protection amidst attacks on them, in Tunis, Tunisia, Thursday, March 2, 2023. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 11.04.2023
West is Behind Ongoing Migration Crisis in Tunisia, Politician Says
The purpose of the European delegation's visit is to meet with Tunisian President Kais Saied, addressing various topics, including negotiations on a memorandum of understanding for a European aid package to support Tunisia and discuss matters related to illegal migration.
On June 11, the European Union and Tunisia signed a joint declaration, affirming their commitment to a comprehensive partnership package. This package aims to bolster economic and trade relations between the two regions while implementing measures to combat illegal migration.
According to the latest data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 51,215 irregular migrants arrived in Italy by sea in June, with nearly half of them originating from Tunisia.
Alarming figures provided by the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), a monitoring body for migration and asylum issues, indicate that the number of dead and missing individuals on Tunisian shores has reached 608 in the first half of 2023.
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