A terrible fire has occurred on a migrants boat off the coast of Tunisia while traveling to Europe by sea via Libya. At least 9 people have been died. Most of them are Bangladeshi citizens, said the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya.
Bangladesh Embassy in Libya said in a Facebook post on Saturday (February 17), last Thursday (February 15) a group of 52 migrants traveled to Europe by sea from the coast of Libya. During the journey, the boat carrying them caught fire off the Tunisian coast.
The post also said that the Tunisian Navy recovered the bodies of 9 migrants and 43 alive from the boat. According to various sources, most of those who died in the accident were Bangladeshi citizens.
Among the migrants rescued alive are 26 Bangladeshi nationals and one of them is in critical condition. The Embassy is maintaining constant communication with the relevant Tunisian authorities, Red Crescent Society and IOM to ensure necessary assistance and medical care to the rescued Bangladeshi nationals.
In addition, the statement said that a team of the embassy has been sent to Tunisia as soon as possible to meet the local authorities and rescuers to ensure their cooperation and collect detailed information about the dying Bangladeshis.
According to the International Organization for Migration, in 2023, more than 3,000 migrants have died and disappeared while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea from the coasts of different countries to Europe.
In addition, several European countries have recently taken a tougher stance on illegal immigration, and the navies of Libya and Tunisia have stepped up their surveillance. As a result, the journey across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe has become extremely dangerous and risky.
It is said on behalf of the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, in such a situation, the embassy is requesting everyone not to risk their lives by being enticed by brokers and smugglers.
Besides, expatriates working and living in Libya have been requested to be careful. At the same time, it has been advised to warn their relatives, friends and acquaintances staying in Bangladesh.
A greater number of migrants entered Europe from Tunisia than Libya, Morocco or Turkey in 2021. Using compiled data from Europe, Tunisia and UN agencies, FTDES said more than 80,000 migrants had been intercepted at sea in 2023- a figure more than twice as large as the prior year's.
That includes a growing number of both Tunisians and sub-Saharan Africans, including from Guinea, Cote D'Ivoire and Sudan, according to UN figures.
