Tunisia coastguard intercepts, returns 372 migrants

Last Monday a Tunisian coastguard operation off the coast of the port town of Sfax, 250km south of capital Tunis, intercepted 372 migrants attempting to leave the shores of the North African country in small and unseaworthy boats.

The migrants told reporters they had hoped their vessel would carry them into international waters from where they might be rescued and taken to Europe. Attempting the sea journey were migrants from far and wide, with many from Bangladesh and Syria, but the majority on this night were from sub-Saharan West Africa.

Officials say the small sheet metal boats that the migrants are using, are built to order in small workshops in and around Sfax. The coastguard says it has stopped 13,000 people attempting to depart by sea illegally in the first quarter of the 2023.