Drone aerial image of Kindjandi spontaneous site, Route Nationale 1, Diffa Region, Niger, September 2016

Since 2013, the Diffa region in Niger has been receiving displaced persons from Northern Nigeria fleeing the conflict of Boko Haram. Sadly, the situation deteriorated in February 2015 with the first attacks within the region itself, while the population displaced by the violence continues to grow, in particular internally displaced persons.

The displaced population in the region now number over 250,000 people (October 2016), the highest number ever recorded in the region. The Diffa situation is quite unique as refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are mainly living outside of camps. Just two official camps exist, one for refugees and one for IDPs, however the two camps combined host less than 20,000 people.

In recent months, and in particular following a series of violent attacks in the area of Bosso in the east of the Diffa region in June, the need for enhanced information management has never been so urgent. The attacks and the consecutive population movements drastically changed the operational context. Before this period, the displaced were mainly settled in towns and villages. However, in recent months, over 50 spontaneous sites appeared along the Route Nationale 1, the single paved road running through the region from east to west. Most of the population have settled along this road in search of security. The displaced population is also very mobile, moving from site to site in preventive or post attack movements, as well as for survival as they move in search of assistance.

Since the beginning of the crisis, UNHCR and its information management partner REACH are conducting extensive mapping exercises of all the villages and towns hosting refugees and returnees from Nigeria. The maps provide information regarding the existing infrastructure and the capacity of the infrastructure. Progressively, UNHCR have developed other information management tools such as a 6W matrix to track all activities being implemented in the region at the village level. For the mapping of towns and villages hosting displaced populations, the images used are generally free images obtained on specific online websites. For the mapping of existing towns and villages, this serves as an adequate basis, however it is more complex for the visualisation of open areas hosting newly displaced outside of towns and villages such as the spontaneous sites along the Route Nationale 1. For this reason, UNHCR became interested in the use of a drone to capture up-to-date images of these areas.

To understand the dynamics of the population movements properly, UNHCR decided to contract a local innovative ‘drone mapping’ expert to travel to Diffa. The drone is known as a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) drone, T800. It is a small lightweight aircraft of just 2 meters in diameter. It is equipped with a high resolution camera capable of operating automatically without the need for human intervention.

Aziz Kountche, Nigerien drone expert in Diffa region Niger

During the month of September, a series of drone flights were carried out to capture images and video, which were then converted into extremely detailed maps of the various sites and settlements. The drone provided the possibility to rapidly visualize the current situation in the sites. Following the mapping exercise, UNHCR and REACH provided additional detailed information through GPS points for infrastructure and existing services in the sites such as water systems, education, health and sanitation facilities, which were incorporated into the drone image maps in order to identify gaps, for example in terms of the availability of drinking water and availability of latrines according to basic standards. The results aid in the delivery of an appropriate response for the population. The images clearly show the size of the various sites and the numbers of shelters in place.

The process of registration of the displaced population in such a complex and dynamic context is extremely challenging. However, the visibility of the number of shelters per site enables a better analysis of the populations present in the biggest spontaneous sites, thus aiding the registration process.

The drone was also used to provide detailed images for maps of the two existing camps in the region, Sayam Forage refugee camp and Kabelawa IDP camp. Kableawa IDP camp currently hosts around 15,000 people. The population increased dramatically, with much inward and outward population movement in recent months, due to the threat of attack. The use of the drone in this volatile situation has provided an image of the rapid spatial evolution of the camp, which is essential for adequate site planning and adjustment of existing infrastructure.

An additional benefit of the exercise is the identification of environmental issues in the region and especially the availability of wood resources around the spontaneous sites. In the areas surrounding the sites, trees are cut by the vulnerable displaced population who are unable to buy wood for cooking, due to their low purchasing power. The situation is extremely worrying, as even before the crisis and this new demographic pressure on natural resources, the region was facing a serious environmental crisis: two thirds of the region is affected by desertification. In 2016, UNHCR began to implement a gas for domestic energy project in the Diffa region. One in every four inhabitants in the region has benefitted from the project, which is strongly supported by the Regional Directorate of Environment. For some of the sites, the drone images will provide the possibility to monitor the evolution of the environmental situation and the use of wood.

It’s the first time that the office of the UNHCR in Niger has used drone technology. Following an important initial collective learning phase, it is clear to see the multiple benefits of the project. The next drone flight should take place in early 2017, enabling a new visualisation of the situation.