The Tunisian Coast Guard announced today, Sunday, the rescue of 423 migrants in one night off the coast of the country, in addition to thwarting 16 attempts to illegally migrate by sea towards the European coasts.
The official spokesman for the National Guard posted on its official Facebook page a statement in which it said, "During the night between February 18 and 19, units of the Naval Guard region in the center, north and south thwarted 16 rescue operations and rescued 423 people."
The immigrants are 71 Tunisians and 352 sub-Saharan nationalities, according to the statement.
Tunisia is a transit point for thousands of immigrants from sub-Saharan countries who are heading on illegal voyages by sea to the European coasts, particularly Italy.
Italy receives large numbers of migrants arriving from Tunisia across the Mediterranean.
According to official figures, this country received more than 32,000 immigrants in 2022, including 18,000 Tunisians.
Tunisia, whose coast is less than 150 km from the Italian island of Lampedusa, regularly records attempts to leave migrants to Italy.
The Tunisian Coast Guard said in a statement on Friday that illegal immigration operations "are witnessing a significant increase during this week due to the improvement of weather conditions."