Hope dims for Tunisian survivors of boat tragedy

Survivors rescued from a sinking boat off the coast of an Italian island have refused to return home to Tunisia despite being welcomed back, according to the Immigration and Tunisians Overseas minister Hussein al-Jaziri on Wednesday. The survivors, being housed at an accommodation centre on the Italian island of Lampedusa, have confirmed they were not till-treated but refused the offer of a flight home. The search is continuing for the remaining survivors. Italian coast guards rescued 11 Tunisians from a sinking rubber boat off the coast of Lampedusa on Monday. Al-Jaziri said: “There is diminishing hope for finding other survivors after two more bodies were found out of the 79 missing people. Maritime guard were not able to find the others. The search continues for the secret immigrants missing from the boat that sank carrying tens of Tunisian youths dreaming of heaven on the north banks of the Mediterranean. ” With another 42 Tunisians attempting to cross to the Italian island on Tuesday, immigrants are flooding Lampedusa, he added. And death brokers are charging young Tunisians two thousand dollars each for the journey to Italy. Tunisia vows to work closely with Italian authorities to prevent further illegal immigration.