According to the Tunisian coastguard, two citizens, including an&nbsp;eight-month-old infant, died after their boat sank Saturday (August 12) soon after leaving the country’s shores. This comes amid a spike in the number of Europe-bound central Mediterranean migrant crossings from North Africa which is said to be the world’s deadliest, according to the United Nations.&nbsp;

<h2>Migrant boat sinks off Tunisian coast</h2>

The vessel was said to have been carrying 20 Tunisians when it sank around 2:00 am (local time) and around 120 metres from the country’s coast in Gabes, said the officials. “Two bodies have been recovered, one of a 20-year-old man and the other of an infant,” said the North African country’s coastguard, in a statement, as per AFP.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-16-dead-dozens-missing-after-migrant-shipwrecks-off-tunisia-western-sahara-623251">At least 16 dead, dozens missing after migrant shipwrecks off Tunisia and Western Sahara</a>

It added that around five people were still missing and that search operations were ongoing for them. Additionally, the Tunisian coast guard managed to rescue 13 others. Meanwhile, officials in the city of Gabes have launched an investigation to “determine the circumstances of this tragedy”.&nbsp;

Mouhamed Borhen Chamtouri, a commander of the coast guard in Sfax, told AFP on Thursday (August 10) that this month the force had intercepted about 3,000 migrants in just 10 days out of which, 90 per cent were from other parts of Africa.

This comes as the eastern Tunisian port city of Sfax, which is located about 130 kilometres from the Italian island of Lampedusa has become a key port for Europe-bound migrant boats.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/six-killed-55-rescued-after-boat-carrying-migrants-capsizes-in-channel-624852">Six killed, 55 rescued after boat carrying migrants capsizes in Channel</a>

<h2>Charity boat rescues 76 migrants in the Mediterranean</h2>

In a separate incident, a charity EMERGENCY, said that they managed to rescue around 76 migrants on an overloaded wooden boat in the Mediterranean, on Saturday (August 12).

According to the charity, the migrant boat was headed for the southern Italian port of Naples with seven women and 24 children among the 76 people and was picked up by their rescue ship named ‘Life Support’ in international waters in the Maltese Search and Rescue zone on Friday night.&nbsp;

It added that the 12-metre boat carrying the migrants had set sail from Libya late on Thursday and those rescued were from Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Syria. Italian authorities helped to coordinate the rescue and the charity boat is expected to reach Naples on Monday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-shipwreck-in-central-mediterranean-claims-lives-of-41-623866">Migrant shipwreck in central Mediterranean claims lives of 41</a>

Separately, another boat carrying 59 migrants was rescued by Open Arms’ Astral rescue yacht docked in Porto Empedocle in southern Sicily on Saturday. Among those rescued were five children, two of whom were only a few weeks old, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
 
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According to the Tunisian coastguard, two citizens, including an eight-month-old infant, died after their boat sank Saturday (August 12) soon after leaving the country’s shores.

According to the Tunisian coastguard, two citizens, including an eight-month-old infant, died after their boat sank Saturday (August 12) soon after leaving the country’s shores. This comes amid a spike in the number of Europe-bound central Mediterranean migrant crossings from North Africa which is said to be the world’s deadliest, according to the United Nations. Migrant boat sinks off Tunisian coast The vessel was said to have been carrying 20 Tunisians when it sank around 2:00 am (local time) and around 120 metres from the country’s coast in Gabes, said the officials. “Two bodies have been recovered, one of a 20-year-old man and the other of an infant,” said the North African country’s coastguard, in a statement, as per AFP. ALSO READ | At least 16 dead, dozens missing after migrant shipwrecks off Tunisia and Western Sahara It added that around five people were still missing and that search operations were ongoing for them. Additionally, the Tunisian coast guard managed to rescue 13 others. Meanwhile, officials in the city of Gabes have launched an investigation to “determine the circumstances of this tragedy”. Mouhamed Borhen Chamtouri, a commander of the coast guard in Sfax, told AFP on Thursday (August 10) that this month the force had intercepted about 3,000 migrants in just 10 days out of which, 90 per cent were from other parts of Africa. This comes as the eastern Tunisian port city of Sfax, which is located about 130 kilometres from the Italian island of Lampedusa has become a key port for Europe-bound migrant boats. ALSO READ | Six killed, 55 rescued after boat carrying migrants capsizes in Channel Charity boat rescues 76 migrants in the Mediterranean In a separate incident, a charity EMERGENCY, said that they managed to rescue around 76 migrants on an overloaded wooden boat in the Mediterranean, on Saturday (August 12). According to the charity, the migrant boat was headed for the southern Italian port of Naples with seven women and 24 children among the 76 people and was picked up by their rescue ship named ‘Life Support’ in international waters in the Maltese Search and Rescue zone on Friday night. It added that the 12-metre boat carrying the migrants had set sail from Libya late on Thursday and those rescued were from Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Syria. Italian authorities helped to coordinate the rescue and the charity boat is expected to reach Naples on Monday. ALSO READ | Migrant shipwreck in central Mediterranean claims lives of 41 Separately, another boat carrying 59 migrants was rescued by Open Arms’ Astral rescue yacht docked in Porto Empedocle in southern Sicily on Saturday. Among those rescued were five children, two of whom were only a few weeks old, reported Reuters. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

At least two dead, including infant, 5 missing after migrant boat sinks off Tunisia

At least 16 migrants have lost their lives in shipwrecks off the coasts of Tunisia and Western Sahara, said the officials, on Monday (August 7). This comes amid a spike in the number of Europe-bound central Mediterranean migrant crossings from North Africa which is said to be the world’s deadliest, according to the United Nations.&nbsp;

<h2>Death toll in Tunisia migrant wreck rises to 11, 42 missing</h2>

Tunisian authorities said that they recovered seven more bodies believed to be of migrants who drowned in a shipwreck off Tunisia, raising the death toll to 11. They also said that only two out of the previously reported 44 people missing were rescued.&nbsp;

This comes a day after a judicial official, as per Reuters, said the migrants aboard the boat, which sank off the country’s Kerkennah island near the port of Sfax, were from sub-Saharan African countries.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-30-migrants-feared-dead-as-dinghy-carrying-60-people-sinks-off-morocco-coast-607117">Over 30 migrants feared dead as dinghy carrying 60 people sinks off Morocco coast</a>

From the beginning of this year to July 20, the Tunisian coast guard recovered an unprecedented number of 901 bodies of drowned migrants off its coast, according to the country’s interior ministry. Additionally, 34,290 migrants had been rescued or intercepted, most of them coming from sub-Saharan African countries, as per Tunisian officials.&nbsp;

Local court spokesman Faouzi Masmoudi told AFP that coastguard units were searching for more survivors.&nbsp;

<h2>Shipwreck off Western Sahara&nbsp;</h2>

Officials in Morocco said that they found the bodies of five migrants, all from Senegal,&nbsp;reported AFP. They also managed to rescue 189 people after their boat capsized off Western Sahara.&nbsp;

A military source told Morocco’s state-owned MAP news agency, that the five bodies as well as 11 migrants in “critical condition” were transferred to a hospital in Dakhla, the disputed Western Sahara’s second city on the Atlantic coast.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italy-at-least-two-dead-30-missing-after-migrant-shipwrecks-off-lampedusa-622845">Italy: At least two dead, 30 missing after two shipwrecks off Lampedusa</a>

The media report, citing the source, also said that the boat had embarked from “a country located south of the kingdom” and was headed towards Spain’s Canary Islands. However, it was discovered off the coast of Guerguart, just north of Mauritania and was in a “difficult situation,” as per the media report.

The migrants who were rescued, including at least one woman, were taken to Dakhla on Sunday and handed over to Moroccan authorities, said the Moroccan news agency citing the source.&nbsp;

<h2>Deadliest migration route</h2>

The North African coast has become a major gateway for illegal migrants and asylum seekers from several parts of the continent to embark on what has been called the world’s deadliest Mediterranean migrant crossing route in the hopes of a better life in Europe, often on rickety boats which are prone to accidents.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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At least 16 migrants have lost their lives in shipwrecks off the coasts of Tunisia and Western Sahara, said the officials, on Monday (August 7). This comes amid a spike in the number of Europe-bound central Mediterranean migrant crossings from North Africa which is said to be the world’s deadliest, according to the United Nations.

At least 16 migrants have lost their lives in shipwrecks off the coasts of Tunisia and Western Sahara, said the officials, on Monday (August 7). This comes amid a spike in the number of Europe-bound central Mediterranean migrant crossings from North Africa which is said to be the world’s deadliest, according to the United Nations. Death toll in Tunisia migrant wreck rises to 11, 42 missing Tunisian authorities said that they recovered seven more bodies believed to be of migrants who drowned in a shipwreck off Tunisia, raising the death toll to 11. They also said that only two out of the previously reported 44 people missing were rescued. This comes a day after a judicial official, as per Reuters, said the migrants aboard the boat, which sank off the country’s Kerkennah island near the port of Sfax, were from sub-Saharan African countries. ALSO READ | Over 30 migrants feared dead as dinghy carrying 60 people sinks off Morocco coast From the beginning of this year to July 20, the Tunisian coast guard recovered an unprecedented number of 901 bodies of drowned migrants off its coast, according to the country’s interior ministry. Additionally, 34,290 migrants had been rescued or intercepted, most of them coming from sub-Saharan African countries, as per Tunisian officials. Local court spokesman Faouzi Masmoudi told AFP that coastguard units were searching for more survivors. Shipwreck off Western Sahara Officials in Morocco said that they found the bodies of five migrants, all from Senegal, reported AFP. They also managed to rescue 189 people after their boat capsized off Western Sahara. A military source told Morocco’s state-owned MAP news agency, that the five bodies as well as 11 migrants in “critical condition” were transferred to a hospital in Dakhla, the disputed Western Sahara’s second city on the Atlantic coast. ALSO READ | Italy: At least two dead, 30 missing after two shipwrecks off Lampedusa The media report, citing the source, also said that the boat had embarked from “a country located south of the kingdom” and was headed towards Spain’s Canary Islands. However, it was discovered off the coast of Guerguart, just north of Mauritania and was in a “difficult situation,” as per the media report. The migrants who were rescued, including at least one woman, were taken to Dakhla on Sunday and handed over to Moroccan authorities, said the Moroccan news agency citing the source. Deadliest migration route The North African coast has become a major gateway for illegal migrants and asylum seekers from several parts of the continent to embark on what has been called the world’s deadliest Mediterranean migrant crossing route in the hopes of a better life in Europe, often on rickety boats which are prone to accidents. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

At least 16 dead, dozens missing after migrant shipwrecks off Tunisia and Western Sahara

Fourteen migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have drowned off the coast of Tunisia, the coastguard said on Thursday. The Tunisian authorities said that they discovered a sunken boat from which they rescued 54 people of various sub-Saharan African nationalities. The authorities recovered 14 dead bodies from the spot.&nbsp;

"Coast guard patrols last night intercepted a group whose boat had sunk, rescuing 54 people of various sub-Saharan African nationalities, and recovering 14 bodies," the authority said in a statement.

Last month, Tunisia President Kais Saied ordered officials to take "urgent measures" to tackle irregular migration, claiming that "a criminal plot" was underway to change Tunisia's demography. He claimed that migrants were behind most crime in the North African country.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/smugglers-threw-kids-into-sea-to-lighten-boat-italy-boat-tragedy-gets-murkier-566963">Italy boat tragedy gets murkier: Smugglers 'threw kids into sea' to lighten vessel's load</a>

Earlier on Thursday, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson called Tunisian president's statements on African migrants "worrying" but added the EU will continue to cooperate with this "key country" to prevent illegal immigration to Europe.

Tunisia, whose coast lies just 150 kilometres (90 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa, has long been a transit&nbsp;for people fleeing war and poverty elsewhere in Africa, often on&nbsp;boats.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Italy Boat Tragedy: 63 bodies found, 36 still missing

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Tunisia reportedly hosts around 21,000 undocumented migrants from other parts of Africa, less than 0.2 per cent of the population.

Rome said in February that more than 32,000 migrants, including 18,000 Tunisians, reached Italy from Tunisia last year, while thousands more have departed from neighbouring Libya.

Meanwhile, the&nbsp; president on Wednesday denied he was racist, saying he had African friends and slammed&nbsp;the "malicious remarks" of those who "wanted to interpret the speech as they saw fit to harm Tunisia".

"I am African and I am proud to be African," President&nbsp;Kais Saied said after a meeting with Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who is chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

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Fourteen migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have drowned off the coast of Tunisia, the coastguard said on Thursday. The Tunisian authorities said that they discovered a sunken boat from which they rescued 54 people of various sub-Saharan African nationalities.

Fourteen migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have drowned off the coast of Tunisia, the coastguard said on Thursday. The Tunisian authorities said that they discovered a sunken boat from which they rescued 54 people of various sub-Saharan African nationalities. The authorities recovered 14 dead bodies from the spot. "Coast guard patrols last night intercepted a group whose boat had sunk, rescuing 54 people of various sub-Saharan African nationalities, and recovering 14 bodies," the authority said in a statement. Last month, Tunisia President Kais Saied ordered officials to take "urgent measures" to tackle irregular migration, claiming that "a criminal plot" was underway to change Tunisia's demography. He claimed that migrants were behind most crime in the North African country. ALSO READ | Italy boat tragedy gets murkier: Smugglers 'threw kids into sea' to lighten vessel's load Earlier on Thursday, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson called Tunisian president's statements on African migrants "worrying" but added the EU will continue to cooperate with this "key country" to prevent illegal immigration to Europe. Tunisia, whose coast lies just 150 kilometres (90 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa, has long been a transit for people fleeing war and poverty elsewhere in Africa, often on boats. ALSO WATCH | Italy Boat Tragedy: 63 bodies found, 36 still missing × Tunisia reportedly hosts around 21,000 undocumented migrants from other parts of Africa, less than 0.2 per cent of the population. Rome said in February that more than 32,000 migrants, including 18,000 Tunisians, reached Italy from Tunisia last year, while thousands more have departed from neighbouring Libya. Meanwhile, the president on Wednesday denied he was racist, saying he had African friends and slammed the "malicious remarks" of those who "wanted to interpret the speech as they saw fit to harm Tunisia". "I am African and I am proud to be African," President Kais Saied said after a meeting with Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who is chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tunisia boat tragedy: 14 people from sub-Saharan Africa nations drown, 54 rescued