UNHCR Niger

About UNHCR Niger

Thousands of refugees started in January 2012 to leave their native Mali and seek protection in neigbouring Niger. A year later, the story repeats itself at another border: Thousands of refugees are fleeing the conflict in northern Nigeria and flock into neighbouring Niger. This blog is about the hardship of being a refugee in Niger, about the men, women and children forced into exile since war devastated their previous lives. But this blog is also about hope and the generous welcome the population of Niger is extending to the refugees from Mali and Nigeria and the difference humanitarian actors can make in the lives of those who have lost everything.
Contact: morenob"AT"unhcr"DOT"org

Depuis janvier 2012, des milliers de réfugiés ont quitté leur Mali natal pour aller chercher protection au Niger voisin. Un an après, l'histoire se répète à une autre frontière : des milliers de réfugiés fuient actuellement le conflit au nord du Nigeria et affluent sur le territoire du Niger. Ce blog raconte la difficulté d'être réfugié au Niger, parle d'hommes, de femmes et d'enfants forcés à l'exil par la guerre qui a anéanti leur vie passée. Mais ce blog raconte également l'espoir, l’accueil généreux du peuple nigérien et l’importance du travail humanitaire pour aider à reconstruire les vies de ceux qui ont tout perdu.
Contact: morenob"arobase"unhcr"point"org

“Camps are no solution” - The Niger Government takes charge of refugees from Nigeria

Thousands of refugees from Nigeria have sought refuge in the villages of southeastern Niger. They are often hosted by families they did not know before they arrived.

“These refugees can stay where they are. We will not force them into refugee camps" says Idder Adamou, the president of the government’s refugee agency CNE.

In Niger - both local communities and the government - are taking charge of the refugee assistance programme and the UN System is giving its helping hand: UNHCR is supporting the Civil Registry Office (picture below) to register the new arrivals while the World Food Programme is providing food which is distributed by volunteers of the Niger Red Cross.

©UNHCR / A. Omarou Timbo / 4 September 2013