• Crisis Severity ?
    1.9
    0 Very low
    Very high 5
  • Impact ?
    3.3
    0 Very low
    Very high 5
  • Humanitarian Conditions ?
    0.6
    0 Very low
    Very high 5
  • Complexity ?
    2.5
    0 Very low
    Very high 5
  • Access Constraints ?
    1.0
    No constraints
    Extreme constraints
See all indicators

Key figures

  • 1,005 Fatalities reported [?]

Overview

22/03/2023

Tunisia is a country of origin and transit for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. Since mid-2017, the number of Tunisians attempting to reach Europe has significantly increased. They are currently the second most represented nationality among migrants arriving in Italy from the Central Mediterranean route, making up more than 17% of the arrivals in 2022. Political instability following the dissolution of the parliament in March 2020, as well as rising inflation and food prices, will likely drive more Tunisians to migrate to Europe. The youth in Tunisia also face higher levels of unemployment compared to the total employable population. The employment rate reached 15% in June 2022. Inflation rates also increased each month in 2022, reaching 10% in December.?

As at the end of December 2022, the country was hosting nearly 9,000 refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Côte d'Ivoire and Syria. Refugees and asylum seekers will likely be among the groups most affected by the economic and political issues that Tunisia is facing. They already have needs for temporary shelter, food, education, healthcare, and psychosocial support. Access to food for refugees and asylum seekers is likely to become more difficult because of shortages in basic commodities, such as sugar, milk, butter, cooking oil, and rice, since at least the beginning of September 2022. These shortages are linked to a lack of foreign reserves and the consequent inability of the country to import goods.?

INFORM measures Tunisia's risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster to be low at 3/10.?

Latest Developments

08/03/2023

An estimated 21,000 sub-Saharan migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers are facing a crackdown by the police following urgent measures taken by the Government on 21 February. Such measures include detentions and access restrictions to services for any migrant with an irregular status, but there are also reports of authorities detaining some without checking their legal status. Since then, many migrants have been detained, evicted from their houses, or lost their jobs. They are seeking repatriation flights. Those from several African countries, such as Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Mali, have already returned to their countries of origin or are awaiting scheduled return flights arranged by their governments. On 4 March, about 300 people fearing a wave of violence, given increasing detentions, returned to Mali or Côte d’Ivoire from Tunisia. Many migrants already live in difficult conditions and need livelihood, protection, cash assistance, and healthcare services.?

Risk

A political deadlock and economic deterioration increase protests and civil strikes, leading to clashes between civilians and security forces and increased food and livelihood needs, especially in central western governorates Latest update: 29/03/2023

Probability

Highly unlikely Somewhat likely Highly likely

Impact

Very low Moderate Major

Key Priorities

18/01/2022

Protection: Many migrants in Tunisia are a victim of fraud and subjected to abuse at the hands of smugglers. Other protection concerns for migrants include the risk of deportation and restricted access to services because of the absence of a formal national asylum system.?

Information Gaps

18/01/2022

Tunisia has no severity score in the Inform Severity Index because of the lack of data on the humanitarian conditions of migrants countrywide.

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Source: ACAPS
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