Tunisia Dismantles Migrant Camps Amid Rising Tensions
The closure of large migrant camps comes as Tunisia grapples with increased pressure from local populations and international migration dynamics.
EI AMRA, Tunisia: Tunisia has initiated the dismantling of camps housing approximately 20,000 undocumented migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, according to statements from police officials.
The operation, which follows a surge in social media campaigns targeting migrant communities, has led to significant changes in the eastern regions of El-Amra and Jebeniana.
National guard spokesman Houcem Eddine Jebabli confirmed that about 4,000 migrants have vacated one of the recently cleared camps, with ongoing operations expected in the coming days.
As the camps were disbanded, many migrants reportedly dispersed into rural areas, while authorities have taken measures to ensure the care of vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and the infirm.
Local residents expressed increasing frustration regarding the camps, which led to legal actions aimed at addressing what they described as an invasion of their farmland.
Jebabli stated, "It was our duty to end all the disorder," underlining the tense relationship between migrant populations and local communities.
On March 25, Tunisian President Kais Saied urged the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to expedite processes for the voluntary return of irregular migrants to their countries of origin.
Tunisia has become a vital point of departure for migrants aiming to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.
In response to this migration crisis, Italy has engaged in agreements with Tunisia and Libya, promising financial support to help curtail departures.
Italy is set to invest €20 million ($22 million) in a new initiative to assist in sending irregular migrants back to their home countries from Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia.
The government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is committed to reducing the number of irregular migrants arriving on Italian shores, the majority of whom originate from North African countries, particularly Libya and Tunisia.
The new Italian plan focuses on enhancing the administrative and managerial capacities of partner countries, involving 400 officials from Italy’s Foreign Affairs Ministry for effective implementation.
The project aims to improve assisted voluntary repatriations for vulnerable migrants, with the Italian ministry emphasizing the importance of safeguarding migrants' rights throughout the process.
It is anticipated that around 3,300 of the most vulnerable migrants will benefit from planned repatriation initiatives.
In addition, Italy's Agency for Development Cooperation will provide technical support for development activities associated with the repatriation effort, including a focus on the socio-economic reintegration of returning migrants, leveraging partnerships with Italian companies and civil society organizations.
Meanwhile, Libyan authorities have made headlines by suspending the activities of ten international humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, as they accused these groups of attempting to "settle migrants" from other regions of Africa within Libya.
The operation, which follows a surge in social media campaigns targeting migrant communities, has led to significant changes in the eastern regions of El-Amra and Jebeniana.
National guard spokesman Houcem Eddine Jebabli confirmed that about 4,000 migrants have vacated one of the recently cleared camps, with ongoing operations expected in the coming days.
As the camps were disbanded, many migrants reportedly dispersed into rural areas, while authorities have taken measures to ensure the care of vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and the infirm.
Local residents expressed increasing frustration regarding the camps, which led to legal actions aimed at addressing what they described as an invasion of their farmland.
Jebabli stated, "It was our duty to end all the disorder," underlining the tense relationship between migrant populations and local communities.
On March 25, Tunisian President Kais Saied urged the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to expedite processes for the voluntary return of irregular migrants to their countries of origin.
Tunisia has become a vital point of departure for migrants aiming to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.
In response to this migration crisis, Italy has engaged in agreements with Tunisia and Libya, promising financial support to help curtail departures.
Italy is set to invest €20 million ($22 million) in a new initiative to assist in sending irregular migrants back to their home countries from Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia.
The government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is committed to reducing the number of irregular migrants arriving on Italian shores, the majority of whom originate from North African countries, particularly Libya and Tunisia.
The new Italian plan focuses on enhancing the administrative and managerial capacities of partner countries, involving 400 officials from Italy’s Foreign Affairs Ministry for effective implementation.
The project aims to improve assisted voluntary repatriations for vulnerable migrants, with the Italian ministry emphasizing the importance of safeguarding migrants' rights throughout the process.
It is anticipated that around 3,300 of the most vulnerable migrants will benefit from planned repatriation initiatives.
In addition, Italy's Agency for Development Cooperation will provide technical support for development activities associated with the repatriation effort, including a focus on the socio-economic reintegration of returning migrants, leveraging partnerships with Italian companies and civil society organizations.
Meanwhile, Libyan authorities have made headlines by suspending the activities of ten international humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, as they accused these groups of attempting to "settle migrants" from other regions of Africa within Libya.
