31 Oct 2013

Dozens of bodies found in Niger desert

5:04 pm on 31 October 2013

Rescue workers in northern Niger have found 87 bodies of people, believed to be migrant workers, who died of thirst when their vehicles broke down in the desert.

The BBC reports, a rescue worker saying most of the rotting bodies are of children.

Almoustapha Alhacen says the corpses were in a severe state of decomposition and had been partly eaten, probably by jackals.

Niger is on a popular migrant route between sub-Saharan Africa and Europe.

But among those who make it across the desert, many end up working in North African countries.

Mr Alhacen says one of the vehicles that the migrants were travelling in broke down some time after they left Arlit at the end of September or beginning of October.

Security officials say the second vehicle broke down as it was on its way back to Arlit to get spare parts.

It appears that some of the group set out on foot, including up to 10 people who made it back to Arlit and raised the alarm.