A deteriorating humanitarian crisis is developing along the arid Algeria-Niger border. More than 7,000 migrants were forcibly ejected from Algeria to the Assamaka desert between April and May 2025, with the majority coming from Niger and sub-Saharan Africa. More than 700 children were among them, underscoring the mass displacement.

Dr. Toupou Lancinet, General Coordinator for Doctors of the World in Niger, has called this recent spike in deportations a "unprecedented wave of refoulement." Although Algerian expulsions are not new, the magnitude and severity of this most recent wave represent a concerning new phase in the region's migrant crisis.

A Journey Through Inhumane Conditions

The migrants, who are frequently placed on open trucks, must travel through dangerous deserts with temperatures above 111°F, frequent sandstorms, and no access to food, water, or medical care. The physical toll is devastating and immediate. Many of those who are expelled arrive in Agadez traumatised, dehydrated, and injured.

One of the many impacted, a young woman named Zalika, described her terrifying experience:

It is extremely hot, and the trucks are open to the sky. Dehydration claimed the life of a man in my husband's truck. When we pass towns, we yell for water, but the driver doesn't stop. Others pass away before getting to safety, while others faint.

Overcrowded Reception Facilities in Agadez

The Agadez Migrant Reception Center, which usually serves around 400 persons every month, experienced a sudden uptick in April 2025 with 2,600 inhabitants. The center was overwhelmed, and in particular, the children's area. It had no room, and many children were given to volunteer host families, while others had to unfortunately survive on the street.

In response to the growing crisis, Doctors of the World stepped up its presence in Agadez. In coordination with the Ministry of Health, their nurses, midwives, psychologists, and social workers have been providing services including medical consultations, trauma treatment, and referrals to secondary health facilities.

Health Crises and Rising Violence

In five arrival waves in April, the organization undertook 446 medical consultations. Most of the consulting patients had symptoms from:

• Physical injuries and trauma from the desert journey
• Respiratory issues and skin infections
• Stomach illnesses and dehydration
• Psychological distress, particularly among children and unaccompanied minors

These health conditions stem from unsanitary living conditions, lack of nutrition, and untreated wounds.

Even more dangerous, however, is the increasing violence against migrants, including violence against minors and theft of migrant belongings through illegal seizure throughout the expulsion process. These are violations deserving the attention of the international community and responsibility.

Calls for Immediate Global Action

In response to the growing humanitarian crisis, Doctors of the World has strongly implored actors at the regional and international levels:

• To the international community: Respect all migrants’ rights per the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
• To the European Union: Reconsider the externalisation of its borders and ensure that migrant’s dignity and legal protection are guaranteed when affected by EU policy.
• To countries of origin, transit, and destination: Provide support systems during repatriation and initiate a humanitarian dialogue with human rights and human dignity to achieve long-term solutions for all migrants in respect of health care, housing, and legal status.

A Decade of Support in Agadez

Doctors of the World has had a presence in Agadez since 2015, and has been engaging with migrants' issues related to their health and rights since then. Some of these activities have included the following:

• Setting up a permanent infirmary for deportees
• Rehabilitation of 3 community health facilities
• Setting up mobile clinics to visit the most remote areas
• Distributing medical supplies, food packs, and hygiene products

11,839 migrants received medical consultations from them in 2024 alone, and 4,641 more received material assistance.

Additionally, they offer a wide range of services, including mental health services, which are crucial considering the emotional toll that migration takes, especially on vulnerable populations. These services are targeted at women, children, and survivors of violence.

The Agadez Refugee Reception Center

Managed by the Governorate of Agadez, in collaboration with technical partners, the Agadez reception site is one of the few structured facilities available to migrants rejected by Algeria and Libya. Most of these migrants are Nigerien nationals, now stranded in a city unequipped to handle such high numbers without sustained international aid.

Conclusion

The problem in Agadez is a global issue, not simply a local one. The often forgotten migrants' rights in the Sahel are demonstrated by the onward migration, rapid expulsions, difficult desert mobility, and inadequate humanitarian responses. Though great efforts from organisations such as Doctors of the World will be made, thousands will be abandoned to suffering if international solidarity, policy reform, and humanitarian debt are not made available sooner rather than later.

Human dignity, secure migration routes, and access to basic healthcare for those who have already suffered too much should be given top priority by all parties involved.