At least 23 people are missing off the Tunisian coast, local authorities have said, as search and rescue operations are under way. Tunisia's National Guard said in a statement on Saturday that it had been notified of unauthorised sailing operations from several areas along the Tunisian coast. Five suspects in organising the crossing have been arrested, it added.
Migrants seeking to travel to Europe often arrive on Tunisia's coasts from across the globe, particularly from impoverished and conflict-stricken areas of sub-Saharan Africa. More than 12,000 people are registered as refugees and asylum seekers in Tunisia, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Tunisian nationals have also sought to migrate to Europe via sea to escape poverty and search for employment opportunities.
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