Algeria Did Not Abandon African Migrants In The Sahara, Officials Say

A report by Britain’s Daily Mail revealed on Thursday the open allegations that Algeria abandoned 13,000 African migrants in the southern Sahara over the past 14 months, a claim that was strongly denied by the Algerian Red Crescent’s President, Saida Ben Habiles, who confirmed that all the deportations were conducted bilaterally with the authorities of the countries of origin.

British Daily Mail claimed that Algeria, as part of the policy of deporting African migrants, abandoned 13,000 Africans in the Sahara and left them without water or food, including pregnant women and infants, over the past 14 months, and an official of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned of an alleged “disaster” for what Algeria is doing.

The newspaper published on its website a report with pictures and videos of migrants in the Sahara, saying that an official in the European Union informed of what Algeria is doing, but according to him, sovereign countries can deport migrants as long as they respect international laws.

The same newspaper acknowledged that unlike Niger, Algeria does not receive assistance to conduct the migration file, estimated at 11.3 million euros.

Algeria Red Crescent president, Saida Ben Habiles, responded to the blatant lies that are contained in the alleged report, explaining that all deportations of migrants were not carried out in a unilateral manner, but in cooperation with the authorities of the concerned countries.

“The deportations have always been accompanied by the authorities of the country concerned and the extradition is being given to the authorities (Niger)”, Ben Habiles said in an interview with Echorouk, on Monday.

“Algeria handed over 6000 unaccompanied minor children who were protected and safe in Algeria to the Niger authorities.”

“All deportations were carried out under humanitarian conditions, and there were air-conditioned buses, hot meals, vaccines and medicines, security and health escorts”.

“Algeria does not need lessons on the humanitarian side in dealing with the file of African migrants, who were deported under conditions of humanitarian dignity and were housed in 5 stars’ centers either in the north or in Tamanrasset (south)”, Lahcene Kassimi, an official at the Interior Ministry, said.

“Algeria spent millions of dollars to shelter African migrants in decent conditions and also to deport them under humanitarian conditions, and 14,000 African children and women were rescued from begging gangs”, he added.

A few days ago, the Italian ambassador to Algeria said at an Rome University’s seminar that half a million African illegal migrants were living in southern Algeria.

Europe plans to set up centers for the gathering of African migrants in North African countries, an endeavor that was initiated by the Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia, before Algeria’s categorical rejection of the proposal a few days ago.