African News Agency : Welcome

Algiers, 31 Oct - (ANA) - - Rescue workers in Niger say they have found the bodies of 87 people who died of thirst after their vehicles broke down as they tried to cross the Sahara. Rescue worker Almoustapha Alhacen said the corpses were in a severe state of decomposition and had been partly eaten, probably by jackals. Those found are thought to be migrant workers and their families. Most were women and children. Niger lies on a major 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. According to Mr Alhacen, 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 have said 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, he said. About 80,000 migrants cross the Sahara desert through Niger, according to John Ging, director of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Niger is one of the world's poorest countries and frequently suffers from drought and food crises.(ANA)