THE DANGEROUS ROUTE THROUGH NIGER – More and more are choosing the “Mediterranean Corridor”

In recent weeks, more and more refugees and immigrants have chosen the “Mediterranean Corridor” to reach the Italian coast.

Before even reaching the Libyan coasts, many refugees and immigrants, many of whom come from South Africa, go through Niger.

An important crossroads are considered to be the city of Agadze. A trafficker who spoke to Deutsche Welle said immigrants come from Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia and other distant African countries.

Traffickers benefiting from the transfer of refugees and migrants earn about 300 euros from each refugee. Niger has evolved into a  transit country for refugees and immigrants. Traffickers are transferring refugees on small without even countering the slightest resistance from the Niger police.

Following EU pressure, the Niger government banned these “transfers” and proceeded to many traffickers and truck seizures. Since then, refugee flows from Agadays have been reduced, but traffickers are seeking and finding alternative routes through the desert. However, these journeys are usually longer which makes them more expensive for refugees and migrants.

The journey through Niger is extremely risky. According to Judepe Loprete of the International Organization for Migration in Niger, the number of people losing their lives in the deserts of Niger is much larger than the number of those who do not survive the Mediterranean Route.

“In 2016, 5,000 people died in the Mediterranean. It is estimated that in the desert the number was three times, “he says.

For those who survive and manage to reach Libya, the problems are not over. Many sources confirm that in Libya many refugees and immigrants are victims of exploitation, blackmail and abuse by gangs trying to get ransom from their relatives to their homelands. Those who survive and still have money, are looking for small boats hoping that they will take them to European territory.