On 28th ofAugust 2020, Laouel Taher, alert person of Alarme Phone Sahara (APS), was informed of an accident 90km west of Dirkou in northern Niger by a satellite phone call. According to current reports, four people have died and two have been injured.
Alarme Phone Sahara (APS) Alarme Phone Sahara condemns the increased resumption of deportations and pushbacks from Algeria to Niger as traffic between African countries resumes.
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!
A 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"
Practices of active solidarity, which should not be forgotten even in times when the corona crisis seems to overshadow everything:
On 12th and 13th of March 2020, 38 persons were rescued with the assistance of an Alarme Phone Sahara team near the Mafrouss well in the desert near the border between Niger and Libya.
Reports about abuses by security forces. Refugees forced to sleep in the desert without shelter.
Intensified migrant hunting campaign announced in Algeria
©Louiza Ammi/Liberté
Protest in the face of massive police repression
