A new Tunisian tragedy.. 19 bodies of migrants in Ben Gardane.. and protests engulf the city - Sarmad

The head of the Tunisian Human Rights Observatory announced that the Ben Gardane hospital in southern Tunisia received at least 19 bodies of migrants recovered from the sea over the past two days, following the sinking of a boat.

Mustafa Abdelkabeer, head of the Tunisian Human Rights Observatory, told Reuters that genetic tests are being conducted to identify the bodies and determine the number of people who were on board the sunken vessel, while search operations continue for others who may still be missing.

The sinking of the migrant boat at the end of the week, which was carrying seven members of a single family, sparked a wave of grief and anger that turned into nighttime protests.

Protesters are demanding improved living conditions and economic development, saying that the lack of opportunities and years of marginalization are driving young people to undertake dangerous sea journeys to Europe in search of a better life.

Protesters set fire to car tires and blocked roads, while police responded by firing tear gas to disperse them.

Tunisia was previously a major departure point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean, but the number of departures has sharply declined over the past two years amid a tightened security campaign and stricter maritime surveillance measures, supported by European funding and modern border monitoring equipment, particularly from Italy.