A Tunisian fisherman who has been working in the Mediterranean near Sfax for 20 years has encountered a terrible occurrence: dead corpses of migrants in his nets. The 30-year-old fisherman, claims to have discovered the bodies of 15 migrants in his nets over the course of three days, reports BBC News on June 21.
"Once upon a time, I discovered the body of a baby. How can a baby be held accountable for anything? I was in tears. Adults have a distinct perspective since they have lived. But the infant, you know, didn't see anything," says the fisherman.
The fisherman claims to have become accustomed to the awful sight, yet he still feels anguish and sorrow for the victims. The fishermen are among the few who have not sold their boats to traffickers, who offer vast sums of money to ferry people across the Mediterranean. He claims that if his boat was used for such a reason, he would never forgive himself.
Photo: Most fisherman in Sfax have sold their boats for vast sums to people smugglersSource: BBC News
Tunisia has surpassed Libya as the major departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe by sea, supplanting Libya as the most prevalent route. Tunisia's closeness to Italy, relative security stability, and low border restrictions have made it an appealing destination for migrants from numerous African and Middle Eastern nations.
Between January and April of this year, more than 24,000 migrants fled the Tunisian coast in improvised boats and arrived in Italy, according to the UN refugee agency. Many others, however, did not survive due to severe waves, overloaded vessels, and a lack of rescue assistance.
In the first three months of this year, 13,000 migrants were apprehended and returned to shore near Sfax by Tunisia's National Guard. Despite the risks and difficulties, many of them were determined to try again.
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