Authorities in Niger have recovered the bodies of at least 87 suspected migrants who apparently died of thirst as they tried to cross the Sahara Desert and enter Algeria.
 
Officials say most of the victims were women and children.
 
They said Thursday that most of the bodies were recovered over the past few days after survivors of the ordeal alerted authorities.
 
Investigators believe the migrants left the northern town of Arlit in late September or early October. They say the migrants were left stranded in a remote region after the trucks they were traveling in broke down.
 
At least some of the migrants set out on foot. Investigators say about 20 people made their way to towns along the Algerian border or returned to Arlit.
 
They say the bodies were discovered in various states of decomposition and some had been partially eaten by jackals and other animals.
 
There was no immediate word on the nationalities of the victims.
 
Niger lies along a major transit route for smugglers and traffickers, many trying to reach destinations in Europe.
 
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. [Read More]

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Source: VOA News: Economy and Finance