Tunisians risking all to escape poverty

Despite deadly risks, Tunisia’s young men are braving dangerous waters for a better life in Europe.

In 2012, a group of teenage boys left their impoverished neighbourhood of Ezzayatine in Tunis, dreaming of a better life. Their heavily overloaded boat ran into trouble off the coast of Sicily. Less than half the passengers survived, saved by the Italian coastguard.

Their families have not seen them in two years. They believe the boys are alive, trapped somewhere in Italy’s detention centres. 

The boys’ mothers now warn other would-be young migrants against undertaking such journeys.

Al Jazeera’s Hassan Ghani examines why young Tunisians are still attempting to reach Europe by sea, despite the dangers involved.

Follow Hassan on Twitter: @hassan_ghani

Source: Al Jazeera