Nearly 50 pipo die of thirst for Sahara desert afta lorry break down
Wia dis foto come from, Agadez governorate/Facebook
- Author, Wycliffe Muia
- Published
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At least 49 pipo don die from lack of water inside one remote side of Sahara desert for northern Niger afta di truck wey carry am break down, authorities tok.
Di group dey come back from Mali, wia dem attend one Muslim festival, wen water finish for dia side, stranded more dan 80 km (50 miles) west of Assamaka, major border crossing between Niger and Algeria.
"Di travelers find demself trap for extreme hot environment and lack of supply make am hard for dem to survive," Agadez govnor tok.
Only two pipo survive, dem waka cross di desert go Assamaka, wia dem alert authorities.
Di lorry don leave from di Malian town of Telhandek but e change from im intended way, di govnor tok.
For several days, di driver and passengers try fix di motor, but dem no succeed.
"Dem no get water and e no dey fit repair di vehicle depsite di effort of di driver, im apprentice and di passengers. Travellers dey trap inside di hostile environment," di statement tok.
"Dem find dozens of lifeless bodies under di immobile truck and for di surroundings," e tok.
Dem burry di victims for mass graves by di rescue team wey di local authorities send come di area.
Wia dis foto come from, Agadez governorate/Facebook
As dem dey come back from di scene, di rescue team tok say dem see anoda lorry wey break down, e carry more dan 60 pipo wey dey trapped inside for three days afta di battery spoil.
Di lorry set off from Harouba for Mali, more dan 300km (186 miles) from Niger border, di governor tok for im follow-up statement.
Di rescue team, wey include Niger troops, share water to di "tired and troubled travellers" and help dem fix di vehicle, so dem fit continue dia journey safely.
Di Niger desert na still major route for migrants from across West Africa wey dey try Europe, repeatedly dem dey defy di risk wey dey associated wit di dangerous journey.
Di govnor tok say di tragedy show di "vulnerability of young pipo wey dey engage for migratory and cross-border economic activities, wey dem dey often forced to pass through unsafe areas to survive or find betta living conditions".
