27 Migrants Die in Shipwrecks Off Tunisia

In a tragic incident off the Kerkennah Islands near Tunisia, 27 sub-Saharan African migrants, including women and children, lost their lives after two boats capsized. Civil defense officials confirmed the grim news on Thursday, noting that 83 others were rescued in the aftermath, underscoring the perilous nature of migrant journeys across the Mediterranean.

According to Zied Sdiri, the Head of Civil Defense in Sfax, the two boats, carrying a total of 110 passengers, had set sail from near Sfax on the night of December 31, 2024, aiming to reach Europe in search of a better life. Among the casualties was a baby, while 15 survivors were taken to a hospital for medical care. Search operations were underway to locate any other potential missing passengers.

The shipwreck is the latest in a series of deadly incidents off Tunisia’s coast, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean. Earlier on December 31, two Tunisians, including a five-year-old child, perished after their boat broke down near the northern coast. Additionally, more than 35 migrants died or went missing in separate incidents off Tunisia’s coast earlier in December.

The central Mediterranean route remains one of the deadliest migration paths, with thousands of people attempting the dangerous journey each year. According to UNICEF, over 2,200 people died or went missing in the Mediterranean in 2024, with nearly 1,700 of these casualties occurring along the central Mediterranean route. Many of the victims, including hundreds of children, were fleeing violent conflicts and poverty.

Tunisia, along with Libya, serves as a primary departure point for migrants seeking to reach Europe, with Italy’s Lampedusa Island just 150 kilometers away. Despite efforts to curb irregular migration, Tunisia’s ongoing economic crisis, marked by inflation, unemployment, and sluggish growth, continues to drive both locals and sub-Saharan Africans to risk the dangerous crossing.

The European Union had pledged €105 million to Tunisia in 2023 to bolster its capacity to prevent illegal departures, alongside €150 million in budgetary support. While these efforts have led to increased interceptions and a decline in migrant arrivals in Europe, human rights groups such as the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) reported that between 600 and 700 migrants lost their lives or went missing in Tunisian waters in 2024, though this was a decrease from over 1,300 in 2023.

Despite a reported 64% decrease in irregular crossings in 2024, as reported by Frontex, the EU’s border agency, the ongoing loss of life highlights the need for more effective solutions to address the root causes of migration. As the death toll continues to rise, the plight of migrants fleeing poverty and conflict serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for global intervention.