At least 13 Tunisians are missing after a migrant boat bound for Italy sank off Tunisia, with two survivors rescued after hours adrift at sea, a rights monitor said.
Mustapha Abdelkebir, head of Tunisia’s Observatory for Human Rights, told Reuters on Saturday that the boat left Tunisia early Thursday carrying migrants bound for Italy. Two people survived, while at least 13 others remain missing.
One survivor told rescuers that passengers spent hours in the sea after the boat overturned. The second survivor was in critical condition, according to Abdelkebir, whose organization monitors migration and human rights issues in Tunisia.
The incident highlights the continuing dangers along the central Mediterranean migration route, one of the world’s deadliest pathways for migrants seeking to reach Europe. Many attempt the crossing aboard overcrowded and poorly equipped boats, often putting their lives at risk.
Tunisia has historically been a major departure point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Italy. Departures have fallen sharply over the past two years amid tougher maritime controls and increased European support, particularly from Italy.
Human rights groups have criticized Europe’s cooperation with Tunisia on migration control. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said last month that the European Union’s migration agreement with Tunisia had contributed to serious abuses against migrants and asylum seekers and helped normalize such practices.
The groups called for an end to funding for border-control activities linked to alleged abuses.
Tunisia has not publicly responded to those allegations. Tunisian authorities have repeatedly argued that the country is bearing a disproportionate burden from migration and have called for greater international support to manage migration flows.
The latest sinking comes amid continued efforts by European governments to reduce irregular migration across the Mediterranean while rights organizations warn that tighter controls can push migrants toward more dangerous routes and increase the risks faced at sea.
