Tunisia: Over 54% of Tunisian youths wish to migrate illegally - FTDES

10 Octobre 2017

Tunis, Tunisia, October 10 (Infosplusgabon) - Over 54% Tunisian youths wish to migrate for greener pastures abroad, this indication was given on Monday by Rim Bouarouj, head of the Tunisian Forum for economic and social rights, (in French - Forum Tunisien pour les droits économiques et sociaux, FTDES).

Of this figure, 31 % of them wish to migrate illegally, Mrs Bouarouj who spoke at a press briefing held during the FIDES 2017 report presentation on migration.

She said that between January and September 2017, Tunisian authorities arrested 1,384 persons who intended to migrate illegally.

She said that 1,040 were arrested in July, August and September compared to the 1,035 arrested in 2016 and 7,595 in 2011.

The number of Tunisians who arrived on the Italian shores is estimated in 2017 (from  January to September) at 2,700, including 1,400 only in September, she said.

She added that FTDES expects 5,000 arrivals compared to 1,200 in 2016 and 880 in 2015.

The number of women is estimated at 2% of these figures, she added, underlining that the Sfax governorate (South-East Tunisia), notably the Kerkennah Islands (32 km off the coast of Sfax), is top of the places where authorities foiled migration attempts (a total of 29%), followed by Benzerte (North) and  Médenine (East) with 9%, Mahdia (South of Tunis) 7% and Monastir (South of Tunis) 6%.

According to her, the age category of illegal migrants ranges from 20 to 30 years.

The main causes pushing Tunisian youths to go for illegal migration are frustration, caused by economic and social hardships and the proliferation of illegal smuggling networks at sea.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/OLM/GABON 2017

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