Metro

75 people missing, one dead, as migrant boat sinks off Tunisian coast

Published

2 years ago

May 25, 2022

75 people have been declared missing, while one has been confirmed dead after a crowded boat carrying African migrants sank off the Tunisia coast of Sfax, while attempting the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency on migration, said the accident which happened on Wednesday, adds to the number of such risky and dangerous crossings by African migrants desperate to get to Europe which has been on the increase in recent years.

The IOM said 24 of the people had been rescued from the boat which departed from the beaches of Zawara in Libya and sank off the coast of Sfax.

A Tunisian security official who also confirmed the incident, said the country’s coastguard had recovered a body as they continue to search for 75 others who were missing.

Those who were rescued were aged between 18 and 40 and of various nationalities, including people from Bangladesh, Egypt, Morocco and Cameroon, Sfax courts spokesman Mourad Turki said.

In a statement by the IOM, dozens of people have drowned off the Tunisian coast in recent months with an increase in the frequency of attempted crossings from Tunisia and Libya towards Italy.

“Hundreds of thousands of people have made the perilous Mediterranean crossing in recent years and figures from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) showed that more than 123,000 migrants arrived in Italy in 2021, compared to more than 95,000 in 2020,” the statement said.

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Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda

Published

7 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

“As a representative of the deaf community, I believe digital rights should be inclusive. Everyone, including persons with disabilities, should enjoy these rights through various devices to express themselves and participate in national discourse,” he asserted.

He also called for the recognition of sign language as the eighth national language, aligning with United Nations conventions that mandate sign language interpreters at all events to promote inclusivity.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda (video)

Published

9 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.