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Shipwreck off Kerkennah Islands Claims Lives of Migrants Trying to Reach Europe
At least 20 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have died in a shipwreck as they attempted to reach Europe, adding to the growing toll of lives lost in the perilous Mediterranean crossing.
ND
by News Desk
2025-01-02
Shipwreck off Kerkennah Islands Claims Lives of Migrants Trying to Reach Europe

Sfax, Tunisia: A tragic shipwreck off the Kerkennah Islands in central Tunisia has claimed the lives of at least 20 sub-Saharan African migrants, who were attempting to reach Europe. According to Zied Sdiri, head of civil defense in the city of Sfax, the victims were found in the Mediterranean after their vessel capsized.

The passengers, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, were trying to make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean, a perilous route frequently taken by migrants seeking to reach Europe. The Tunisian National Guard, which oversees the coastguard, continues its search for additional missing passengers.

Tunisia has long been a key departure point for irregular migrants, many of whom aim to reach Italy’s Lampedusa island, just 150 kilometers away. However, the Mediterranean crossing has proven increasingly deadly, with a spate of recent shipwrecks exacerbated by poor weather conditions.

This shipwreck follows a deadly pattern of incidents: On December 18, at least 20 sub-Saharan African migrants died off the coast of Sfax, while five others remain missing. Earlier in December, a rescue operation saved 27 African migrants near Jebeniana, but 15 others were reported either dead or missing.

The Tunisian human rights group FTDES reported that between 600 and 700 migrants have died or gone missing in shipwrecks off Tunisia since the beginning of the year. This grim tally follows the more than 1,300 migrant deaths or disappearances recorded in 2023.

As Tunisia struggles to curb the migrant crisis, human rights organizations continue to call for stronger protections and safer migration routes for those attempting the dangerous journey to Europe.
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