A record number of people are making the dangerous journey by boat from Tunisia across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.
Many are from poor and conflict-hit countries in sub-Saharan Africa. But an increasing number of Tunisians, trying to escape hunger and unemployment, are joining them.
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Countries in Europe are alarmed. As part of efforts to stem the flow, they are offering an aid package of more than $1bn to help stabilise Tunisia’s economy.
Rights groups are criticising the proposal saying it compromises the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom
Guests:
Julien Hoez – European Union affairs analyst
Yasmine Akrimi – North Africa research analyst at the Brussels International Centre
Tarek Kahlaoui – Columnist and former director of the Tunisian Institute of Strategic Studies