Niger is facing a worsening humanitarian situation and rising levels of violence following a military uprising, the representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for Niger, Emmanuel Gignac, told a briefing.
Gignac noted that food and commodity prices, already rising before this crisis, rose after the sanctions were imposed. If humanitarians are unable to deliver food and medical aid, the effects could be “catastrophic”, he warned.
In addition, the security situation, fuel shortages and disruptions of the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) have seriously affected the mobility of aid workers, preventing them from reaching those most in need.
Gignac also expressed concern about the impact of sanctions on electricity supply “we are almost constantly with generators and we consume a lot of fuel”, he said, pointing to the inevitable impact on fuel supply in the coming months. The ongoing political crisis, with no clear solution in sight, is generating uncertainty and concern as Nigeria continues to experience repeated attacks by non-state armed groups, particularly near the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, UNHCR said.
The latest violence has led to an additional 20,000 newly displaced in the past month according to Gignac, who noted that an increase in security incidents in recent weeks has increased protection risks for refugees, asylum seekers and their hosts.
For example, in July UNHCR monitored 255 protection incidents, including kidnapping, gender-based violence and domestic violence.
According to the UNHCR there are approximately 700,000 forcibly displaced people in the country. Half of them are internal, while the other half are refugees and asylum seekers mainly from Mali and Burkina Faso.
Referring to UNHCR’s latest emergency planning update, Gignac warned that the current humanitarian response cannot handle any new shocks, such as the sudden movement of tens of thousands of new refugees and any resulting humanitarian needs.
UNHCR has therefore called on states to consider a sanctions waiver mechanism, especially amid restrictions on movement and rising food and commodity prices.
Gignac stressed that UNHCR’s stockpile of essential items, which provide food for about 5,000 families, is expected to last only three to five months.
To join the “Fourals.com” group, just click: Join Group and your request will be approved immediately. Fourals.com Group
