MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN TUNISIA
On 14 May 2022, the Tunisian Navy intercepted 81 people who departed from Libya. They were then transferred to the Tataouine shelter of IOM. On 11 May 2022, the Tunisian Coast Guard rescued 99 people in distress in front of the Libyan coast. A few days before, Tunisian authorities intercepted 250 people and retrieved three bodies in different operations. 10 of them are Tunisian nationals, the others are from different African nationalities.
African women living undocumented in Tunisia are among those migrants who decide to take to the sea because they can’t leave Tunisia in a legal way. Many are from the Ivory Coast and are able to enter Tunisia visa-free and stay for three months. But often, they find themselves in situations of forced labour, working as domestic workers for Tunisian families who do not pay them. After the three months expire, if they do not leave immediately, they are fined for everyday of illegal stay in the country. Therefore, undocumented migrants find themselves with a huge dept to the Tunisian state that must be paid if they want to leave the country. This pushes many to leave irregularly and risk their lives in the Mediterranean crossing.
African women living undocumented in Tunisia are among those migrants who decide to take to the sea because they can’t leave Tunisia in a legal way. Many are from the Ivory Coast and are able to enter Tunisia visa-free and stay for three months. But often, they find themselves in situations of forced labour, working as domestic workers for Tunisian families who do not pay them. After the three months expire, if they do not leave immediately, they are fined for everyday of illegal stay in the country. Therefore, undocumented migrants find themselves with a huge dept to the Tunisian state that must be paid if they want to leave the country. This pushes many to leave irregularly and risk their lives in the Mediterranean crossing.
Source: EuroMed Rights
