Desert Mining (02:49)

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A bus arrives in Arlit and transports men to SOMAIR mine.

Community Profits? (03:42)

Tuaregs receive no benefits from the SOMAIR mine. A man states that the ground near Arlit is rich in uranium. A Tuareg discusses the mine's location.

Inside Arlit (03:11)

A resident remembers when Arlit was a prospering city. See residents in the marketplace and walking city streets.

Valuable Friendship (02:12)

An Arlit resident recalls moving to the city in 1968 and receiving help from Alhadji.

Opportunities (03:32)

Alhadji recalls working for HANNIBAL and then hiring on with SOMAIR. An Arlit resident gives a tour of his home and reflects on how it used to look.

Melting Pot (02:50)

A resident recalls when 25,000 workers lived in Arlit. A Tuareg never saw Arlit's prosperity but he became involved with the Tuareg rebellion in the city.

Changing Perspectives (01:38)

A Tuareg recalls joining the army when the rebels were integrated. He left the army and now transports people across the desert.

Destiny in Arlit? (04:09)

An Arlit resident does not care if he dies; his motto is "Forward." A man recounts his journey around the mountains and his troubles in Niger.

No Work in Niger (03:37)

Residents discuss leaving Arlit to find work versus staying and waiting to die, and transporting illegal immigrants.

Small Business (02:17)

Amadou discusses his mechanic business; many customers are smugglers. See images from inside Arlit.

"2nd Dump" (02:07)

A resident discusses the lack of restaurants in Arlit and the city's former prosperity. He discusses his current employment.

Arlit Restaurant (03:28)

Two women work in a drink stall, but they have nothing left to serve customers. They have only been in Arlit for a week; they plan to return to Togo.

Struggling to Survive (02:15)

A woman at the drink stall discusses her family in Togo. She tries to find work away and sends money or clothing when she can.

Rich Promises (03:21)

See derelict mining equipment around Arlit. Residents recall working in the quarries without understanding the radiation risks and believing Arlit would become a second Paris.

Asthma (02:53)

A former miner recalls having medical check-ups and being told he was fine; friends became ill and died. He returned to Benin but radiation sickness manifested anyway.

Radiation Sickness (02:28)

A former miner recalls becoming very sick very quickly. His initial diagnosis was AIDS.

Mining Outside Arlit (02:48)

Buses pick up and drop off passengers. Men work large machinery at the mine.

Radioactive Health Risks (03:30)

A man recalls the death of several friends who were miners. A doctor states that he has not found any cases of radioactive related illnesses from the COMINAK and SOMAIR mines.

Medical Cover-ups? (01:44)

A man criticizes the doctors and mines for patient treatment.

Reusing Scrap Materials (03:27)

Mining debris litters streets in and around Arlit. Contaminated parts find their way into people's homes, causing significant health risks.

Extraction (01:39)

Follow workers inside a uranium mine.

Radiation Exposure (02:53)

Arlit residents discuss the death of friends and loved ones. They consider their own possible demise.

Cause of an Illness (03:18)

Arlit residents claim that officials use AIDS as a cover-up for work-related illnesses and consider the likelihood of becoming sick. One man laments his lack of treatment.

Evening in Arlit (01:04)

Residents wander the city streets. Hear the call to prayer.

Little Opportunities to Prosper (03:49)

One of the women at the drink stall reflects on the lack of customers. She does not have enough money to return home. A man discusses his trip form Marseille to Cameroon.

Waiting in Arlit (04:16)

Several men sit in the shade. Amadou works on cars and searches for a solution. His father suggests he go to Benin.

Credits: Arlit: Deuxieme Paris (01:43)

Credits: Arlit: Deuxieme Paris