Niger

Overview

Insecurity stemming from crises in neighbouring countries impacts populations in Niger. In Diffa region, where a state of emergency has been in place since 2015, Boko Haram continues to carry out sporadic attacks on civilians and against the authorities, whilst since September 40,000 Nigerian refugees have crossed the border seeking safety in west Niger.?Cross-border violence and intercommunal tensions also affect Tillaberi and Tahoua regions, leading to significant population displacement. ?Since September 2018, the Burkina Faso border area has seen increasing attacks by jihadist armed groups against the local population and authorities, leading to States of Emergency declared in several departments. ?

Insecurity also continues to limit food and humanitarian access, amplifying the effects of drought and seasonal floods. In Niger, more than 1.2 million people are expected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse between June and August 2019, the latest figures available.?

Latest Developments

On 17 February at least 20 people died, of which four refugees, and 10 were injured in a stampede during a food and cash distribution in the town of Diffa. The Diffa region currently hosts more than 250,000 displaced people, of which approximately 120,000 of them are refugees from Nigeria and some 110,000 are IDPs. The border between Diffa region and Nigeria has been repeatedly struck by Boko Haram attacks since 2015 and the region has been severely hit by floods since October. The worsening security situation drives new major displacements, secondary movements, and irregular access for humanitarian actors. ?

ACAPS' team is daily monitoring the impact of COVID-19. Find more information related to the outbreak here.