Authorities in Niger have rescued 117 migrants travelling through the Sahara desert from Niger toward Libya with plans to journey on towards Europe, the International OrganiSation for Migration (IOM) said.
IOM and a local official, Bilma Fatoumi Boudou on Wednesday that its staff and Nigerien soldiers rescued 92 migrants who had been abandoned by their traffickers on Friday and brought them to safety to the north-eastern town of Dirkou, the town’s prefect.
One migrant died shortly after the rescue, according to Boudou.
On Tuesday, 25 further migrants, including three children, were saved, said Guiseppe Loprete, Head of the IOM Mission in Niger.
Earlier this month, 44 migrants, including six children, died of thirst after their truck broke down in the Sahara.
Last year, about 330,000 migrants passed through Niger in the direction of Europe, according to the IOM.
Many do not survive the difficult trek through the Sahara desert. (dpa/NAN)
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