Tunis, Tunisia – (African Boulevard News) – The migrant crisis surging across the Mediterranean has put Tunisia on the front line. The vast exodus of migrants seeking a better life on European shores has seen the number of drowning cases increasing day by day, leaving Tunisia with much more than it can handle.
“The number exceeds our capacity,” says Mejdi Ghenim, Head of the Forensic Medicine Department in Sfax. “We are overwhelmed and cannot manage the sheer number of corpses we receive daily.”
Sfax is the second-largest city in Tunisia and has become the departure point for many migrants attempting to cross the waters to Europe. However, not all journeys end successfully with the number of casualties increasing daily.
With the influx of migrants, the number of corpses recovered from the waters off the Tunisian coast has been overwhelming. The hospitals and morgues in the city are finding it hard to cope, with some having to store the dead on the floors as they lack storage facilities.
This situation has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, making it even harder to manage the bodies.
“We have a serious problem: we have no more room, and the situation is getting worse,” says Ali Mridha, an official in the coastal city of Zarzis.
The rise in the number of deaths has also been attributed to the increase in the prevalence of human trafficking in the Mediterranean. In recent years, many Tunisians have made the treacherous voyage to Europe, mainly on unseaworthy boats organized by smugglers.
The government has launched several initiatives to combat the human trafficking menace and prevent the drowning of immigrants but it’s evident that they have a long way to go.
“Saving lives is the most important thing, and the government will continue to do all it can to prevent the loss of more innocent lives,” says a spokesperson for the government.
The migrant crisis is a complex issue that cannot be solved overnight. As the number of migrants attempting the dangerous sea crossing continues to increase, Tunisia must find a way to cope with the overwhelming number of dead bodies, while also working to prevent such tragedies from occurring.
In conclusion, the migrant crisis in Tunisia is a tragedy that has claimed many lives. The situation is overwhelming the country’s resources, and the government needs to take decisive action to prevent such incidents from occurring. It’s up to all of us to ensure that these migrants receive the help and support they need to create a safe and better future for themselves.
