7,000 Migrants Heading Europe Stranded In Niger Republic, Suffering In Streets

At least 7,000 migrants heading for Europe are currently stranded in the Republic of Niger.

VerseNews gathered that the migrants who have been trying to go back home have been trapped in Niger.

As part of economic and travel sanctions, Niger’s junta closed its airspace, and regional countries closed border crossings, making it hard for people to leave.

Associated Press (AP) quoted United Nations officials as estimating that about 1,800 migrants are living on Niger’s streets because centres run by the International Organisation for Migration were too crowded to take in more. The centres hold about 5,000 people trying to get home.

The acting interim chief of mission for the agency in Niger, Paola Pace, the UN agency has been assisting approximately 1,250 people a month to return to their countries this year.

But the closure of borders and airspace has forced it to temporarily suspend returns, and its centres are now jammed at 14 per cent over capacity.

“This situation poses challenges for migrants, as migrants staying in these centres may experience heightened stress and uncertainty with limited prospects for voluntary return and already crowded facilities,” she said.