Migrant arrivals by sea continue to soar in Italy, with almost 49,000 from January to May 2023. Most of those travelling across the central Mediterranean route come from sub-Saharan countries and are leaving from Tunisia.Our reporter Monica Pinna travels there to tell you the stories of those who are fleeing.Tunisia has traditionally been used as a transit route by migrants.
But recent flares in conflicts and growing insecurity in Libya have boosted the numbers of sub-Saharan migrants arriving in the country.
The Tunisian government responded with a crackdown on illegal migrants. Then in February, President Kais Saied delivered a speech in which he claimed that sub-Saharan migrants threaten the country’s identity.
This triggered a wave of xenophobia against foreigners that made life almost impossible for most migrants.“I lost my job. I lost my house.