France, Nov. 15 -- The Harkis were recruited as auxiliaries by the French army during the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962).

After France lost its colony, around 90,000 Harkis and their families fled Algeria. Many were placed in army-run transit and resettlement camps in the south of France, where living conditions were extremely poor.

An investigation by French news agency AFP found that 70 people, including 60 young children, died between late 1962 and 1964 at both the Saint-Maurice-l'Ardoise and Lascours camps in the Gard. At least 10 were stillborn, due to a measles epidemic.

The families' grief was compounded by the way the children were buried. Relatives were not involved in the burials and were sometimes not even allowed ...