Migration: Tunisia: At least 14 people died in a boat accident

At least 14 people have died in a boat accident off the coast of Tunisia.

Migration: Tunisia: At least 14 people died in a boat accident

At least 14 people have died in a boat accident off the coast of Tunisia. 54 other migrants were rescued near the city of Sfax, the National Guard said on Thursday. The people come from countries south of the Sahara. Hundreds of refugees were rescued from distress at sea off the coast of Tunisia on Thursday night.

Many migrants want to leave Tunisia. In February, President Kais Saied called for tougher action against refugees. The head of state had accused migrants from sub-Saharan African countries of bringing violence and crime into the country. Security forces then arrested hundreds of people to check if they were in the country legally. Hostilities and racist attacks increased.

Tunisia is considered an important transit country for migrants on their way to Europe. Many people who reach Italy by boat also come from Tunisia. Around 1,350 people arrived by boat from the coastal town of Sfax on the Italian island of Lampedusa within 24 hours, the Italian news agency Ansa reported on Thursday. The crossing in often unseaworthy boats is life-threatening. People die from it all the time.

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