Algerian authorities on Sunday said 93 children of different African nationalities were freed from human trafficking networks.

Algerian security forces managed within a week to free 93 children of various African nationalities, including over 60 children from Niger, as they are exploited to raise money by begging in the capital Algiers, said the Police Department and Social Assistance Bureau of Algiers in a statement.

The first operation was reported to be carried out five days ago, as 39 children were rescued from human trafficking gangs who used them to raise money by begging in the streets of the eastern outskirts of Algiers.

The second operation, which took place on Thursday, freed another 54 children, 28 of whom were without their parents, as they were begging with two men from Niger.

These children have been taken care of at the Social Assistance Homeless Center in upper Algiers and are in good physical and mental condition.

Algeria has handed 10,000 illegal immigrants, including 7,000 children, to its neighboring Niger this year.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)