🌍 Today, December 18, marks International Migrants Day. We’re spotlighting a growing crisis: asylum seekers are getting stuck far from home… literally. As the EU tightens its borders, it’s rolling out “return hubs” (detention centers outside EU borders) to send back people whose asylum claims are denied.
➡️ Here’s what’s happening: tens of thousands of migrants are stranded in “third countries” — nations that aren’t their origin or final destination. Tunisia, in North Africa, has become a key transit point. Migrants hoping to start fresh in Europe now find themselves in camps, facing uncertainty, scarce resources, and legal limbo (uncertain legal status). 🙁
Romdhane Ben Amor from the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights points out that, since late 2022, the EU — especially Italy — has cut arrivals on its northern shores by shifting the migration crisis to Tunisia. ⚠️
For many young people across South Asia and Southeast Asia — whether you dream of studying abroad, launching a startup, or chasing new opportunities — these changes matter. Migration policies are evolving fast, and the human cost is high. These aren’t just headlines: they’re real lives on hold, waiting for answers.
Stay informed about these shifts, and keep standing for fair treatment and human rights, no matter where someone is on their journey. 🤝
Reference(s):
EU migration clampdown traps asylum seekers in transit countries
cgtn.com
