After the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libyan territory has become one of the preferred routes for tens of thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, Arab countries and South Asia seeking to reach Europe by the Italian coasts.
More than 70 migrants of different African and Asian nationalities who were trying to reach Europe illegally are missing after the sinking of their boat off the coast of Tunisia, the Tunisian National Guard announced this week.
Houcem Eddine Jebabli, spokesperson for the National Guard said that coastguard and navy units were able to save some of these migrants. He adds that « according to the first elements of the investigation, the inflatable boat left the coast of Zouara in Libya on the night of May 22 to 23 with around 100 people on board ».
After the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libyan territory has become one of the preferred routes for tens of thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, Arab countries and South Asia seeking to reach Europe by the Italian coasts.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), since the beginning of the year, 6,340 migrants have been intercepted and brought back to Libya. At least 129 people have died attempting the crossing and 459 are missing, according to IOM. Furthermore, reports tell us that some migrants stranded in Libya are not in good conditions and are being mistreated.