Posted: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 6:28 pm

Father Mauro Armanino - image Youtube

While most news reports have focussed on efforts to rescue thousands fleeing the war in Libya by sea  from towns on the north coast, the Missionary News Service reports that at least 18,000 migrants have entered Niger in the south. Since the end of March,  some 2,000 people have been flowing into Niger from Libya each week.

“When elephants dance it’s the grass that suffers,” said Father Mauro Armanino, a missionary for the African Missions Society (SMA), quoting an African proverb.

“Out of the 18,000 people who have returned, said the missionary, 17,000 are Nigeriens, but a thousand have different nationalities and many of these are asking for asylum because they cannot return to their countries of origin.”

Meanwhile, the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that in the next few weeks the flow of migrants returning could increase at the rate of 1,500 day.  Fr Arminano said: “Most of the migrants are finding refuge in Dirkou in northern Niger, where Caritas and the UN are delivering aid. The flow is not just in one direction. After a pause, in fact, those wanting to reach Europe continue to head north bypassing Libya”.

Source: MISNA