In Tunisia, it’s taboo to take in black people – Survivors

Two of 36  migrants rescued from a distressed metal boat have relived their ugly experience journeying through Tunisia.

In Tunisia they, they were told  it’s forbidden to take in black people. “They don’t even take you in a taxi.”

The survivors shared their tales in a post by SOS Humanity International.

The post reads: “On Thursday night, the crew of Humanity 1 rescued 36 people from a metal boat in distress. Among them were Crespo* and Michael*. They report about the worsening situation: “From the third day on we had no water. We had nothing. We had to drink seawater.”

Five days before the rescue, their boat had set off from Tunisia, where the two had previously stayed. But even in Tunisia they no longer felt safe, Crespo* and Michael* say.

Both regularly faced racist hostility there: “It was tough but we had no choice. In Tunisia they said it’s forbidden to take in black people. They don’t even take you in a taxi.”

“People that try to flee across the Mediterranean often do not have another choice. Also in August we want to continue bringing more humanity to the Mediterranean. We still need about €90,000 for our next rotation.”