39 illegal migrants die after boats capsize off Tunisia's coast

At least 39 irregular migrants drowned after two boats capsized on Tuesday off Kerkennah Islands near the east coast of Tunisia, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said in a joint statement on Wednesday, reported Xinhua.

The two UN agencies said they were "deeply saddened by the latest loss of life in the central Mediterranean," adding that 134 survivors, most of them from Cote d'Ivoire, were brought to shore by Tunisia's coast guard.

"The rescue operations are still ongoing, hampered yesterday by harsh weather conditions," the statement said.

According to the agencies, some 190 people have died while crossing the central Mediterranean in 2021, an average of almost three deaths per day.

"The central Mediterranean continues to claim lives as thousands of people embark on these perilous journeys, whether fleeing extreme poverty, conflict, or in search of a better life," said the IOM's Chief of Mission in Tunisia, Azzouz Samri.

"We continue to call for proactive search and rescue in the most dangerous sea crossing in the world, and the establishment of clear and safe disembarkation for people rescued at sea," said the IOM official.

The agencies also stressed in their statement that prosecuting smuggling groups and traffickers who take advantage of the vulnerabilities of people and put them on risky journeys must be a priority.