Local authorities announced Tuesday that more than 600 migrants from more than a dozen African nations have arrived in northern Niger, following their expulsion by Algeria.
Local authorities stated that 669 Algerians returned home, including two Nigeriens, while 667 West and Central African citizens arrived on foot on September 17. Assamaka is the Nigerien village closest to the Algerian border.
The migrants include 648 men and 14 women, as well as 5 minors. The group includes nationals from Mali, Guinea, Burkin Faso, Senegal, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Sudan, Nigeria, Cameroon and Sierra Leone. According to authorities, the expelled migrants also included nationals from Chad and Togo, Mauritania Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Liberia, and Togo.
The International Organization for Migration, (IOM), confirmed to the media that the wave of migrants who fled Algeria has arrived. However, they did not specify their number.
“We are willing to provide assistance. Migrants who wish to join our assisted voluntary return program can be admitted to our transit center in Assamaka,” IOM said.
After being returned from Algeria, 847 migrants, mostly Nigeriens including 40 women and unaccompanied children, arrived at Agadez on September 6th.
In early July, the IOM announced that it had rescued 50 West African migrants, including women and children, “stranded” in the desert north of Niger, near the border with Libya, another transit point for illegal migrants to Europe.
In June, the organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) denounced the “inhumane treatment” inflicted on West African migrants seeking to reach Europe, of whom “about 2,000 on average” are turned back each month from Algeria and Libya to neighboring Niger.
Source: north africa post
