Sahara Migration

 This week the tragic news broke of 92 Niger residents dying in an attempt to cross the Sahara desert into Algeria. Every year 1000's of Niger nationals pay to be brought across the desert to North Africa. The migrants in this particular situation died of thirst and exhaustion after the vehicles they travelled in broke down forcing them to try to find help by foot.

 Map of African Migration routes

 So why do so many people try the perilous journey across the Sahara?

 If we look at Niger itself we can see why many are so desperate to leave. Niger is a Sub-Saharan landlocked nation with a rapidly growing population of 16 million people. The country is the lowest ranked country in the world in terms of its Human Development Index as compiled by the United Nations.

 The UN uses indicators such as health, education and income to see how developed a nation is relative to others.

 In terms of life expectancy people in Niger can only expect to live to 55.The Infant mortality (deaths per 1000 children under 5 years of age) is exceptionally high at 143 per 1000, in the UK the figure is 5. Adult literacy rates are only 29% while the majority of citizens survive on less than $2 a day (per capita income = $701).

 Human Development Index Map

 As we can see in the Map above North African countries present a greater opportunity for Sub-Saharan Nations as they are rankedhigher on the Human Development Index. For example per capita incomes in Algeria of $7,418 are multiple times more than what can be attained in Niger.

 For many though the Journey to North Africa is only the first step on their journey. The final destination again fraught with danger is to gain entry to the European Union. The dream of a better life in Europe for themselves and their families can often end in tragedy as was the case in the Mediterranean on October the 3rd where 366 migrants lost their lives when their vessel sank off the Italian Island of Lampedusa while last week hundreds more where rescued attempting sea crossings in unseaworthy vessels.