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Côte d'Ivoire + 2 more

Niger welcomes 80,000 nationals, West Africans fleeing crisis

Niamey, Niger (PANA) - Some 80,000 nationals of Niger and other West African nations fleeing crises in Cote d'Ivoire and Libya have arrived in Niamey, according to a government statement Monday.

The statement said the 80,000 nationals, including 77,000 Nigeriens, arrived in Niger totally exhausted, impoverished and traumatized.

"Up to April 27, 2011, 58,973 West African nationals arrived in Dirkou, including 56,053 Nigeriens and 2,920 other nationals. They received assistance from the State and the International Migration Organization (IMO).

''Similarly, 4,316 Niger people were airlifted via Egypt and Tunisia and have landed at the Diori Hamani International Airport of Niamey," the statement said.

Also, 16,002 Nigeriens have returned from Côte d'Ivoire through border crossings in Makolondi and Gaya, the government said.

The government had established a national committee in charge of coordinating and monitoring the situation in Côte d'Ivoire, Niger and Libya, among other efforts to deal with the situation. -0- PANA AH/JSG/JEN/SEG 2May2011

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