The Nigerian refugee crisis and the recent increase in violence reported in the country has led to the expression of growing concerns by the UN Refugee Agency, otherwise known as the UNHCR. Now entering its seventh year, the Nigerian refugee crisis has caused the displacement of over 3.2 million people to date, most of them into neighboring Niger, where the levels of violence have also been concerning.
In 2021 more than 7,660 refugees, mostly women and children, have fled from Nigeria into Niger because of attacks. Even though the UNHCR favourably recognizes Niger’s acts of granting access to asylum seekers despite the COVID-19 pandemic, it notes that refugees are still in danger of murder, kidnapping, or of being caught up in violent clashes. Indeed, it has been reported that in January and February of 2021, more serious incidents have taken place than in the second half of 2020. Furthermore, high levels of malnutrition, difficulties in accessing water, the absence of shelter, as well as lacking health services in Niger make the situation even worse for refugees, thus contributing to a complex humanitarian emergency.
The UNHCR in collaboration with Nigerian authorities, NGOs, and partner agencies within the UN, has been providing strategic protection measures in the field aiming at relocating refugees to safer localities, while also helping in the monitoring of borders and the registration of new entrants to aid in the better identification of their specific needs. However, in part due to the fast growing rate of displacement, the funds needed to support humanitarian actions and responses to the emergencies have only been raised to 10 percent of their required levels. Thus, the UNHCR has called upon the international community to provide further support and aid to the affected governments in the hopes of resolving the causes leading to the displacement and thus, aiding in paving the way towards a more sustainable future.
To know more, please read:
https://www.unhcr.org/nigeria-emergency.html
Author: Chara Papastefanaki; Editor: Maxime Grenier
