A total of 392 illegal migrants stranded in Tunisia have set out to return home in the past three days.
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| A boat carrying migrants crosses the English Channel towards the southern coast of England, April 5, 2023. (Source: AFP) |
The Tunisian state news agency (TAP) reported on January 19 that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it had created favorable conditions for migrants to return home safely.
The migrants included 163 Burkina Faso nationals, 165 Gambians, 33 Malians, 23 Senegalese, seven Guineans and one Liberian. In 2023, IOM also arranged for 2,257 irregular migrants stranded in Tunisia to return home, a 45% increase compared to 2022.
The Tunisian coast has become a major departure point for groups of illegal migrants from various African countries trying to cross the sea to reach the Italian island of Lampedusa, which is only about 80 km from Tunisia.
Tunisia is a major gateway for migrants from both home and abroad seeking to reach Europe by travelling perilous routes in makeshift boats.
According to IOM, since the beginning of the year, more than 1,800 people have died in boat sinkings on the migrant route across the Mediterranean - the world's most dangerous route.
The Tunisian coastal city of Sfax, about 130 km from the Italian island of Lampedusa, has become a departure point for migrants.
Earlier this week, local authorities said 11 migrants died and dozens were missing when their boat sank off the coast of the city of Sfax.
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