UNHCR says Nigerian refugees are arriving in droves in Cameroon, Chad and Niger
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) on Tuesday said that anti-insurgency operations and general
insecurity had uprooted over 6,000 people in north-eastern Nigeria.
This is contained in a report presented in New York by the UNHCR spokesperson, Adrian Edwards.
According to the agency’s report, more than 6,000 of those affected have fled to neighbouring Niger republic for safety.
“Those that have spoken to UNCHR say
they fled for fear of being caught in the government-led crackdown on
insurgents linked to the Boko Haram sect, particularly in the Baga area
of northern Nigeria, close to the Niger border,’’ Mr. Edwards said in
the report.
He stated that “refugees reported that
air strikes by government forces are continuing from time to time, and
that planes are regularly flying over the states of Borno, Yobe and
Adamawa where the state of emergency has been in force since May 14th.
“People arriving in Niger also mentioned the increasing presence of roving armed bandits in several states in Nigeria.
“The people also spoke of rising
commodity prices coupled with pre-existing food insecurity which is also
becoming a major concern for the populations of the affected States.”
Mr. Edwards added that Niger had so far
received 6,240 refugees, comprising Nigerian nationals, returning Niger
nationals and people of other nationalities.
He said that there have also been arrivals in Cameroon and Chad in the past few weeks.
“New arrivals are either renting houses
or staying with host families, who are themselves living in very
precarious conditions,” Mr. Edwards noted.
According to him, UNHCR member of staff
who has visited several border villages hosting new arrivals also met
some Nigerian families living out in the open, and some under trees.
He stated that the presence of the refugees was also putting a strain on the meagre local food and water resources.
Mr. Edwards noted that Niger, a country in the Sahel, itself struggles with food insecurity due to years of drought.
“UNHCR plans to deliver some relief to
the new arrivals as well as to the host community. We are also helping
the local authorities to register new arrivals,” Mr. Edwards added.
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