A merchant ship rescued Oussama Chouat, the sole survivor of a tragic maritime disaster, after nearly forty-eight hours at sea. The incident involved a fishing boat that capsized off the coast of southeast Tunisia, near the Libya border, carrying fifteen young people from the towns of Ben Guerdane and Zarzis. The boat departed from the El-Jedaria area between El-Ketef (Ben Guerdane) and Zarzis on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 13:00, carrying individuals aged 16 to 25. Five hours after departure, water began to seep into the boat, leading to its capsizing. According to Mostafa Abdelkebir, president of the Tunisian Human Rights Observatory, the shipwreck was attributed to overloading and the captain's lack of experience, not bad weather. The families of the victims endured forty-eight hours of uncertainty, as rumors spread that the young people had reached the European shore. On Friday, August 21, around 21:00, Oussama was rescued and reported that his companions were "alive in the middle of the sea." Local residents from Ben Guerdane and Zarzis mobilized to search for the missing, with boats and maritime units combing the area. Solidarity efforts included residents volunteering to provide fuel for search boats. Two bodies were recovered on Saturday, August 22, with a third identified later. The search continued under the supervision of maritime guard units and the army, recovering most bodies for legal procedures. The Chouat family lost seven members, including brothers Jasser and Koussay, whose bodies were identified and handed over to the family. The general directorate of the national guard announced the completion of the search on August 26, 2026, with ten children buried in the Sidi Khlif cemetery. Officials were absent during the tragedy, prompting calls for accountability. Activists highlight the economic desperation driving migration, with many victims engaged in cross-border trade between Libya and Tunisia before the closure of the Ras Jedir border post. The local economy, reliant on informal trade, has deteriorated due to restrictions, pushing youth toward clandestine migration. Mostafa Abdelkebir noted that the common goal among victims was to seek better living conditions in Europe, a desire intersecting with the region's lack of development. The closure of Ras Jedir has led to an unprecedented decline in cross-border trade, with young people turning to the sea as their only option. The tragedy is part of a broader trend of irregular migration from Tunisia to Europe, with 820 Tunisians arriving in Italy between January and August 2026. Abdelkebir argues that coordinated migration policies between Tunisia and the EU remain insufficient, favoring European interests over Tunisian needs. Oussama, the sole survivor, now requires psychological support to cope with the trauma.