Tunisia will welcome the 40 migrants stuck on a boat

The Tunisian authorities decided, "for humanitarian reasons", to welcome the 40 migrants, including two pregnant women rescued by a commercial vessel that had been banned for two weeks from berthing off Zarzis in southern Tunisia. "For humanitarian reasons, we will welcome the 40 migrants," Prime Minister Youssef Chahed announced Saturday evening at a plenary session in Parliament devoted to the vote of confidence in the Minister of the Interior.

In the meantime of an authorization. The Sarost 5, a supply vessel flying the Tunisian flag, has been waiting for about two weeks off Zarzis. "Despite this delay to make this decision, we are happy and relieved," responded the captain of this ship, Ali Hajji, stating that the migrants "are very tired and they want to enter Tunisia." This captain has not yet received authorization to dock at the port of Zarzis but "it will not be long after the announcement of the head of government," he added.

Drifting for five days. From Libya aboard an inflatable boat, these migrants – from sub-Saharan Africa and Egypt – were lost at sea for five days before being spotted, on an unspecified date, by the ship Caroline III sent by a Maltese relief center. This boat then called the coastguards of Italy, France and Malta, "who refused to welcome the survivors, claiming that the nearest ports were located in Tunisia," said in a statement Tunisian NGOs . Migrants, including eight women, were finally taken in charge by Sarost 5.

The refusal of the EU. The NGOs denounced "the attitude of the Italian, Maltese and French governments", calling on the Tunisian authorities to welcome them. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who is also a far-right leader, systematically refuses the arrival of migrants' boats. The island of Malta generally only accepts migrants rescued in its territorial waters, or medical emergencies.

Out-of-ground reception centers. Last month, France had refused to host the Aquarius, with 650 migrants on board, rejected by Italy and Malta, despite the proximity of Corsica with the ship. It was finally Spain that welcomed the ship. Tunisia is among the countries mentioned as possible location for migrant reception centers or "landing platforms outside Europe", decided by the 28 member countries of the European Union at a European Council in Brussels .