A Tunisian human rights institution specializing in immigration affairs revealed a noticeable decline in irregular migration activities from Tunisia's coasts to Europe, due to the outbreak of the Corona virus, which is emerging. Meanwhile, Italy has declared its ports unsafe due to the virus.
Part of this decline is mainly due - according to the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights - to the public quarantine announced in Tunisia since last March 22, along with the night curfew and restrictions of movement between states, which impeded access to coastal areas.
The virus has caused a decrease in the number of secret trips at sea, which were seized by the Marine Guards in March, where four attempts to secret immigration were seized, compared to 25 attempts in February and 22 in January.
The Tunisian coast - especially the Kerkennah Island near the Italian island of Lampedusa - is a major launch pad for irregular boats.
On Monday, 34 Tunisian migrants - including 11 women - managed to reach Lampedusa - to be subjected to quarantine, at the immigration shelters center on the island.
According to the forum, Tunisian security arrested 137 people involved in irregular migration in March, compared to 571 the previous month and 316 in January.
Insecure ports
Meanwhile, the Italian government has said that the country's ports cannot be considered safe due to the outbreak of the new Corona virus, so it will not allow the immigration boats of charitable societies to dock there.
The decision was taken late on Tuesday after a boat run by the German non-governmental organization "CI" rescued 150 people off Libya and headed towards Italy.
The Italian government decree stated that "during the declared state of health emergency due to the outbreak of the" Covid 19 "virus, the Italian ports do not guarantee the necessary requirements to classify and define them as safe places.