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Niger army rescues 92 migrants in Sahara Desert Niger army rescues 92 migrants in Sahara Desert
(about 4 hours later)
Troops in northern Niger have rescued nearly 100 migrants who were on the brink of death in the Sahara Desert, an army statement has said. Troops in northern Niger have rescued 92 migrants who were on the brink of death in the Sahara Desert, an army statement has said.
Traffickers abandoned the group, which included women and children, without water and food, it added.Traffickers abandoned the group, which included women and children, without water and food, it added.
One child is reported to have died, but there is no confirmation of this. One migrant died after being taken to a relief centre, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said.
The route from Niger to Libya is one of the main ways migrants reach North Africa before crossing the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe. African migrants travel through the desert to reach Libya before crossing the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe.
However, the journey through the desert is perilous as the migrants are crammed into pick-up trucks and have little food or water.However, the journey through the desert is perilous as the migrants are crammed into pick-up trucks and have little food or water.
More than 40 people died of thirst in the Sahara Desert about a fortnight ago after their truck broke down.More than 40 people died of thirst in the Sahara Desert about a fortnight ago after their truck broke down.
And last June, the bodies of 34 migrants, including 20 children, were found in the Sahara Desert near Niger's border with Algeria.And last June, the bodies of 34 migrants, including 20 children, were found in the Sahara Desert near Niger's border with Algeria.
The rescued migrants were being looked after by the International Organisation for Migration in the garrison town of Dirkou in northern Niger. The rescued migrants, who included at least 30 women and babies, were being looked after at a facility in the garrison town of Dirkou in northern Niger, the IOM said.
"[The smugglers] tell them that if they do not have money, they cannot continue. So they are in a very vulnerable situation... And if they have no money or sometimes to avoid controls, migrants are abandoned and stay where they are," IOM head of mission Giusseppe Lopreta was quoted by French publication Jean Afrique as saying. "Usually what happens in such situations is that smugglers try to exploit them," IOM head of mission Giusseppe Lopreta told BBC Focus on Africa.
He added that the migrants - most of whom were from Nigeria, Senegal and Burkina Faso - were saved because they were abandoned near a well. "They ask for more money when they are in the middle of the desert. If they don't pay, they are abandoned."
He said the migrants - most of whom were from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Burkina Faso - were saved because they were abandoned near a well.
The harsh Sahara: By Martin Patience, BBC News, NigeriaThe harsh Sahara: By Martin Patience, BBC News, Nigeria
The unforgiving conditions of the Sahara Desert mean that a broken down vehicle is often a death sentence for migrants.The unforgiving conditions of the Sahara Desert mean that a broken down vehicle is often a death sentence for migrants.
Niger serves as a transit point for West Africans hoping to reach Europe to start a better life.Niger serves as a transit point for West Africans hoping to reach Europe to start a better life.
Every year, tens of thousands of migrants cross the Sahara to reach Libya. From the Libyan coast they board rickety boats to ferry them to Europe.Every year, tens of thousands of migrants cross the Sahara to reach Libya. From the Libyan coast they board rickety boats to ferry them to Europe.
Many drown in the Mediterranean but, perhaps, less well known, are the dangers they face while crossing the Sahara.Many drown in the Mediterranean but, perhaps, less well known, are the dangers they face while crossing the Sahara.
It's not known how many deaths there are every year - as it's a vast, ungoverned region. But many migrants die of thirst, while others are robbed and attacked by criminal gangs and security forces.It's not known how many deaths there are every year - as it's a vast, ungoverned region. But many migrants die of thirst, while others are robbed and attacked by criminal gangs and security forces.
'My sister drowned getting to Europe''My sister drowned getting to Europe'