Migrants from a migrant housing center on the Italian island of Lampedusa, are guided by a security official on Sept 14 2023, as they prepare to board the ship "Galaxy", bound to the Sicilian town of Porto Empedocle. (PHOTO / AFP)

TUNIS - About 40 Tunisian migrants were missing after setting off in a boat toward the Italy coast last week, the national guard said on Tuesday.

Tunisia is facing a migration crisis and has replaced Libya as a main departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East in the hope of a better life in Europe.

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National Guard video footage showed coast guard ships supported by aircraft searching for the missing people.