Migrant Boat Crash Off Tunisian Coast Leaves Dozens Dead, Reveals Deeper Dangers Migrants Face

By: Nathan Matsko

State College — A boat carrying dozens of migrants wrecked off of the coast of Tunisia last week.

52 migrants, most of whom were from sub-Saharan Africa, and the ship’s captain died after the vessel bound for Italy capsized.

The crash went unreported for days until bodies were found floating in the water by fishermen.

Nearly 1,900 migrants were reported to have died last year in the Mediterranean Sea. This most recent incident backs assertions made by some experts, which suggests that the number of deaths at sea may be much higher.

Tunisia’s Coast Guard has made efforts to try and stop migrant vessels before making it out to sea. Last month, several ships bound for Italy were intercepted, collectively carrying nearly 50 migrants.

Those who make it out to sea and manage to survive the journey to Italy have had additional challenges in recent months. In April, Italy closed its ports and declared that Italy was no longer a safe landing zone due to COVID-19, with Malta following suit. The declaration left many vessels that had just arrived to European shores stranded at sea. Dozens have died from drowning, starvation, and heat exposure.

Charity organizations operating out of Sicily also had to halt operations due to the spread of COVID-19. Two of the organizations, Saving Humans of Italy and Sea Watch of Germany, resumed search and rescue operations just this week.

The shutdown of former safe arrival locations such as Italy push more migrants into the hands of traffickers and smugglers who care little whether or not the ship makes it to its destination, so long as they have already received their payment.

Erol Yayboke of the Center for Strategic and International Studies warns that the exacerbated crises that prospective migrants afaced prior to the pandemic will force more people to flee.

“Those feeling compelled to move will do so increasingly using smugglers, traffickers, and other illicit groups. Migration will be increasing in and among developing countries with weaker health systems and rule of law. Irregular migrants will travel in close quarters with other people. They will cross international boundaries without documentation or health checks. In the age of COVID-19, they will also put themselves, their fellow travelers, and anyone in their extended path at grave risk.”

Though countries like Italy had closed their ports of entry to prevent further spread of the Coronavirus, the restriction has actually made it much more likely that more migrants will attempt to enter the country—and cross the Mediterranean—through illegal and incredibly dangerous means.