Thousands of people have died since 2014 attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe.
A migrant vessel bound for Italy capsized off the Tunisian coast, leaving at least 13 individuals unaccounted for, according to the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights.
Only two survivors were reported following the incident, which occurred as the boat departed early on Thursday. Speaking on Saturday, Mostafa Abdelkebir, head of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights, confirmed the casualties but noted that search and rescue operations were ongoing.
One of the two survivors informed local fishermen after being rescued that the group had spent hours stranded at sea after their boat overturned. The second survivor remains in critical condition, according to Abdelkebir, who emphasized that his organization closely tracks migration-related tragedies.
In recent years, Tunisia has seen a sharp decline in migration attempts to Europe, largely due to increased maritime restrictions and EU-backed enforcement measures. However, it continues to serve as a key departure point for migrants from various African nations hoping to reach European shores, often traveling in overcrowded and unsafe vessels.
Criticism Mounts Over EU-Tunisia Migration Agreement
In July, nearly four dozen human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, publicly condemned the European Union’s 2023 migration agreement with Tunisia. The deal involves financial support from the EU to Tunisia for border management, which the groups allege has contributed to dangerous sea interceptions and human rights abuses.
According to the statement released by the rights groups, the agreement has led to “reckless and violent interceptions at sea,” including forced returns and collective expulsions. They have urged the EU to halt funding for migration-related operations conducted by Tunisian security forces.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that over 35,000 people have gone missing in the Mediterranean since 2014. The Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that approximately 10,000 Tunisians alone may have disappeared at sea since 2011 while attempting to cross to Europe.
