TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — The our bodies of 19 individuals have been recovered Tuesday off the coast of Tunisia, one of many major factors of departure for these in search of to traverse the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.
The Tunisian coast guard stated in a press release that it had recovered the our bodies close to the port cities of Mahdia and Sfax, the nation’s second largest metropolis the place migrants have in latest weeks clashed with legislation enforcement.
Regardless of dangers, migrants proceed to try the treacherous voyage from North Africa to Europe, touring in boats from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya to Italy, Greece, Malta and Spain’s Canary Islands.
Greater than 49,000 individuals have come to Europe by sea this yr, together with greater than 7,000 from Tunisia to Italy. Many extra have tried the journey, together with hundreds who’ve been intercepted by North African authorities and an estimated 473 believed to be lifeless or lacking, in accordance with the U.N.’s Worldwide Group for Migration.
Politicians on each side of the Mediterranean have largely targeted their migration insurance policies on combating human trafficking and dismantling smuggling networks.
Tunisian authorities stated on Tuesday that that they had arrested 5 smugglers. Human trafficking expenses usually carry prolonged sentences of as much as 20 years.
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