In Tunisia, Maritime Guards and the Navy today recovered 27 bodies and rescued 83 undocumented immigrants after their boats sank off the southeastern coast of Sfax province. The rescue operation was launched yesterday following an emergency call about two sinking boats. The boat was allegedly carrying immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa who tried to cross the Mediterranean illegally toward the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Tunisia is one of the most popular transit points for illegal immigration to Europe. The country has rejected any attempts to turn it into a transit hub or a place of residence for illegal migrants.