According to the Arab News agency, the UN’s International Organization for Migration estimates that between 15,000 and 20,000 migrants are currently stranded in rural olive groves near Tunisia’s central coastline.
This situation has arisen due to anti-migration policies promoted both in Tunisia and across Europe, particularly by right-wing politicians who are predicted to gain support in the upcoming European Union parliamentary elections.
These migrant encampments have expanded since last year as authorities have increased efforts to remove migrants from urban areas and prevent Mediterranean crossings.
Consequently, fewer than 10,000 migrants successfully made the journey from Tunisia to Italy this year, a significant drop from the 23,000 who crossed during the same period last year.
