In recent years, the Maghreb region and especially the Tunisian coast have been seen as a gateway to Europe. According to official figures, the number of irregular migrants arriving in Italy from these coasts between January and April is around 24 thousand.
The Tunisian coast has become the main choice of immigrants due to the violence spiral in Libya.
While the European Union authorities are struggling to prevent the influx of immigrants, those who want to escape poverty and violence are leaving tragic traces on the Mediterranean coast.
WITNESS OF TRAGEDY: FISHERMAN USAME DABBEBI
Osama Dabbebi, who was fishing in Safakes, witnessed these traces personally.
Each time he pulls the net, he looks at those caught in the net with eyes full of hope and worry. Because it’s not always the fish that gets caught in the net.
Osama said that instead of fish, migrant corpses are caught in his net, “I was very scared when it first happened, but then I got used to it. After a while, removing people from the net became no different than removing fish.”
The 30-year-old fisherman said he had recently pulled the bodies of 15 immigrants out of the water in a three-day period. “Once I found a baby’s body. What could be wrong with a baby? I started crying. It’s different for adults because they lived. But that baby.” What else had he been through?” said.
MANY FISHING BOATS ARE SELLING THEIR BOATS TO HUMAN Smugglers…
Stating that he has been fishing on the shores of Safakes since he was 10 years old, Dabbebi stated that most of the fishermen with whom they have been fishing for years sold their boats to human smugglers, adding, “The smugglers offered me incredible amounts of money many times. I always refused because if someone died like this on my boat, I could never forgive myself.” .
Near the port of Safakes, there is a point where the remnants of similar escape attempts are piled up. Another place that shows how these tragic journeys could end is the cemetery outside the city. New burial sites have been opened in preparation for the next naval disaster. But it is known that these will not be enough. A cemetery plan that will be reserved only for immigrants will be implemented.
MORE THAN 27 THOUSAND PEOPLE LOSE LIVES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
In just two weeks this year, the bodies of more than 200 migrants have been pulled from the water.
It is known that more than 27 thousand people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean since 2014.
However, the actual number is thought to be much higher than this.
THIS YEAR THE NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS INCREASED 3 TIMES COMPARED TO THE LAST YEAR
More than 47 thousand immigrants arrived in Italy this year. This marks a threefold increase over the previous year.
Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who visited last month, promised a one billion euro aid package.
If approved, one-tenth of that amount will be spent on preventing human trafficking. (BBC)