By Ebi Kesiena
Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) has decried the living conditions of over half of migrants in Tunisia, noting that some are on the streets, in public parks, and makeshift encampments.
The domestic rights group said this on Tuesday in its latest study on migrants situation in the country.
Tunisia is a key departure point for irregular migrants attempting perilous sea crossings across the Mediterranean to seek better lives in Europe.
The FTDES study also revealed that 77% of migrants surveyed reported experiencing physical or verbal violence. However, only about 5% filed complaints, largely due to concerns over their administrative status. Health care access is another major issue, with nine out of ten migrants avoiding medical treatment for fear of arrest.
The FTDES report suggests that the mistreatment by authorities is pushing more migrants to leave Tunisia. Yet, due to increasing EU efforts to curb migration, many find themselves stranded in the North African country.
FTDES spokesman Romdhane Ben Amor noted that the situation has been worsened by Europe’s migratory policies and Tunisia’s stance on the crisis.
He therefore called for more funding noted that this will address the migrant crisis.
Meanwhile, in a recent statement, Tunisian Interior Minister Khaled Nouri revealed that over 74,000 migrants were intercepted attempting the sea crossing to Europe between January 1 and mid-July this year.
Additionally, between January 1 and June 25 this year, around 3,500 migrants were repatriated through the International Organization for Migration’s voluntary humanitarian return program, marking a 200% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
