Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa are rescued by the Tunisian National Guard off their makeshift boats which were used to make their way to the Italian coast, about 50 nautical miles in the Mediterranean sea off the coast of the central Tunisian city of Sfax on October 4, 2022. (PHOTO / AFP)

TUNIS – At least 19 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa died when their boat sank off the Tunisia as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, a human rights group said on Sunday, the latest migrant boat disaster off Tunisia.

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In the last four days, five migrant boats have sunk off the southern city of Sfax, leaving 67 missing and nine dead, after a significant increase in boats heading towards Italy.