2 500 die in desert migration

2005-07-18 21:08

Bamako - Making one's way across the Sahara desert to Europe is not only expensive and harrowing but can also be deadly, a Malian rights group said Monday, estimating that more than 2 500 illegal migrants have died in the attempt in the last five years.

"It's a major tragedy, what sub-Saharan African migrants are confronted with," said Mamadou Diakite of the association of development initiatives, known by its French acronym AIDE, or "help".

The study, done in partnership with an Italian advocacy group, found that Gao in northern Mali has become one of the principal transit points towards Europe, through Algeria, Mauritania or Morocco, favoured by west Africans as well as migrants from Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"They die of thirst in the desert or are sometimes left there by the people smugglers, who charge up to 3 000 euros per person.

"Others die after being sent out to sea," said Diakite, also noting a high incidence of rape among the female migrants.

- AFP