More than 40 people 'die of thirst' in Sahara Desert

Survivors say 44 people have died of thirst after their
 truck broke down in the Sahara Desert in northern Niger, the Red Cross has told the ERICGOSSIP.

The six survivors, all women, walked to a remote village
 and are being looked after in Dirkou, Niger, Red Cross
 official Lawal Taher said.

They say several children are among the dead.

The Ghanaians and Nigerians were trying to get to Libya, reports Nigerien news site Sahelien.

So far no-one has visited the site to identify the bodies, 
Mr Taher added.

The route from Niger to Libya is one of the main ways migrants reach North Africa before crossing the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe.

Crossing the Sahara is one of the most perilous parts
 of the journey as migrants are crammed into pickup trucks often with only enough room for a few litres of water, reports Reuters news agency.

Authorities told Reuters that is it almost impossible to
 know how many have died in the vast and unpoliced Sahara.

Last June, the bodies of 34 migrants, including 20 
children, were found in the Sahara Desert near Niger's
 border with Algeria.

It appeared they had died of thirst after being abandoned
 by their smuggler, a government minister said at the time.