Alarme Phone Sahara (APS) is a cooperation project between associations, groups and individuals in the Sahel-Saharan region and Europe with the aim to defend the lives and the freedom of movement of migrants and refugees against repressive and often deadly migration policies. The members of the Alarme Phone Sahara network are based in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Morocco, Germany and Austria. Alarme Phone Sahara's office is located in Agadez, Niger, which is a crossroads of migration in the Sahelo-Saharan zone. There is also a network of whistleblowers in the region that works in collaboration with the Agadez office.
As borders between African states are closed due to the Corona crisis, deportations and pushbacks continue and thousands of migrants and refugees are stranded in transit countries such as Niger. Protests arise while people complain about bad living conditions inside camps and mismanagement by the IOM.
Alarme Phone Sahara, together with Afrique-Europe Interact, supports the struggle for the liberation of the representatives of the Nigerien civil society arrested after a demonstration against corruption and bad governance on 15th of March 2020 in Niamey, capital of Niger.
Send support letters to demand freedom for Moussa Tchangari, Mounkaila Halidou, Sani Chekaraou, Moudy Moussa, Habibou Soumaila and Maikoul Zodi!
Read moreThe situation in the face of the Corona crisis also produces new challenges and plights for people on the flight- and migration routes in Niger, as borders are shut down and a signifficant number of people remain blocked at IOM and UNHCR camps and transit centres.
Galius Moumouni Efouad was deported from Algeria to the border of Niger near Assamaka, put in quarantine and then brought to the IOM transit centre in Arlit.
Frequent cases of distress in the desert have already killed many people during the last few years. The whistleblowers of Alarme Phone Sahara, likeLaouel Taher, are doing their best to assist people in distress and help to save their lives.
Migrants currently on the Libya-Niger route have alerted the authorities of Niger that they are stranded in the desert and dying of thirst. They are calling for help from the authorities.
Trigger waring: Photo shared by people in distress can be harmful to look at!
Read moreA group of migrants from Mali who were deported from Algeria to Niger and who are stranded at the IOM Transit Centre in Agadez addressed the people, the authorities and the President of Mali with the request to facilitate their return home:
Video declaration on Facebook Média A
In Arlit, around 640 people, mostly migrants deported from Algeria, are currently stranded in the IOM transit camp. On 20th of April, people protested and revolted against the unbearable conditions in which they are currently living.
©Fatma Ben Hamad, "Obesrvateurs France 24"
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