Tunisia and Libya have reached an agreement to share responsibility for providing shelter to hundreds of migrants who have been stranded at their border for up to a month. The migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan African countries, were driven to the remote desert area of Ras Jedir by Tunisian authorities and left there without support. Dozens of migrants have died in the harsh desert conditions. Aid groups estimate that about 300 migrants remain stranded in life-threatening conditions.
Since the beginning of July, 27 migrants have been found dead and another 73 are reported missing in the Tunisian-Libyan border area. Tunisia’s interior ministry spokesman, Faker Bouzghaya, announced that they have agreed to take in a group of 76 men, 42 women, and eight children. These migrants have been transferred to reception centers in Tatouine and Medenine and are being provided with health and psychological care by the Tunisian Red Crescent.
As part of the agreement, Libya will accommodate the remaining 150-200 migrants. The Libyan interior ministry stated that there are no more migrants stranded at the border following the agreement, and joint patrols will be organized to secure the border.
The crisis at the border has led to racial tensions, with xenophobic attacks increasing across Tunisia. President Kais Saied’s remarks in February alleging that irregular migrants were causing crime and posing a demographic threat have fueled this sentiment. Black African migrants and students have faced targeted violence, job losses, and homelessness as a result.
Both Libya and Tunisia are major entry points for migrants attempting dangerous journeys in search of a better life in Europe. The central Mediterranean migration route is considered the deadliest in the world, and over 1,800 people have already died attempting the journey this year.
The agreement between Tunisia and Libya is a step towards addressing the urgent humanitarian situation at the border, but the root causes of migration and the treatment of migrants need further attention. It is crucial for countries to work together to ensure the safety and well-being of migrants and to address the underlying factors that drive migration.
