Tunisia intercepts more than 1,800 migrants aiming to sail to Europe

Tunisia intercepted more than 1,800 migrants, thwarting 59 attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, on Saturday and Sunday.

There were 18 Tunisian citizens among those who tried to set out on the journey, the National Guard said on Monday.

Two bodies were recovered, while 24 smugglers, including organisers and mediators, were held.

Last week, authorities said security forces prevented more than 30,000 people from crossing to Europe through Tunisia's territorial waters in the first five months of 2024.

Tunisian coast guard steps up migrant interception effort after boat tragedy

According to the Tunisian coastguard, 30,281 irregular migrants were intercepted at sea between January 1 and May 31, compared with 21,652 last year.

The coastguard also said it prevented the entry of 26,619 irregular through Tunisia's land borders in 2024, compared with 7,299 a year ago.

The North African country has signed agreements with the EU and countries such as Italy, which have agreed to help it strengthen Tunisia's capacity to curb the influx of migrants into Europe, in exchange for large sums of money, including much needed budget support packages.

Tunisian authorities have stepped efforts trying to control the large number of migrants moving through the country and attempting to reach Europe through its maritime borders.

A migrant woman learns how to sew at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine. It is a rare, locally driven opportunity for migrants to better themselves and integrate in a wider North Africa region that is often far from welcoming.

Women learn French at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.

Migrant women learn how to use a computer at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine. It is a rare, locally driven opportunity for migrants to better themselves and integrate in a wider North Africa region that is often far from welcoming.

A migrant woman learns how to use a computer at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.

Migrants attend a class at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.

Sub-Saharan migrant children learn French at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants in southern Tunisia.

A migrant learns French at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.

A woman learns sewing at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine. The charity is a rare, locally driven opportunity for migrants to better themselves and integrate in a wider North Africa region that is often far from welcoming.

Migrants gather at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.

In recent years, Tunisia has become a major transit point for migrants – most of whom are from sub-Saharan African countries – trying to reach Europe for better economic opportunities through the dangerous Mediterranean route.

Thousands die each year attempting to make the journey with the help of human traffickers who provide unsafe, and often small, boats in exchange for ever increasing amounts of money.

The UN's migration agency has described the Mediterranean crossing as “the deadliest route for migrants on record” estimating that at least 3,129 people died or disappeared trying to cross to Europe through it last year alone.

This is the highest death toll recorded in the Mediterranean since 2017, International Organisation for Migration said.

On Women's Day

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The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

What is a robo-adviser?

Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.

These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.

Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.

Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

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