This archive report was first published on 12 June 2020.
At least 52 people, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, lost their lives when a boat carrying migrants bound for Italy sank off Tunisia's coast.
According to health officials, the incident occurred on June 11, 2020, when a boat carrying 53 people set off from Tunisia a week ago.
Among the victims were at least 24 women, and the boat's captain, a 48-year-old Tunisian, was also among the dead.
Witnesses reported that the victims were believed to be passengers on a boat that set off for Italy a week ago.
As a result of the tragic incident, an investigation has been launched to identify the organisers of the journey.
According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, sea departures from Tunisia to Europe have been four times more than the ones recorded in the same period last year.
UNHCR's Tunisia representative Hanan Hamdan expressed concern about the new trend in departures, stating, "I am deeply saddened to hear of women and children losing their life in those perilous journeys."
