Niger's Diffa district provides shelter for Nigerians fleeing violence
As fresh violence in Nigeria forces thousands to flee to Niger and Cameroon, one refugee recounts her own flight to safety nine months ago and her warm welcome.
BOSSO, Niger, January 24 (UNHCR) - Surrounded by her earthly possessions in a makeshift shelter, Mariama blows out her cheeks and makes the sound of an explosion as she tells visitors why she fled from her home in north-eastern Nigeria.
The attack that made her flee Baga village took place nine months ago, but she recalls the traumatic experience as though it were yesterday. And new arrivals continue to refresh her memory: an estimated 1,500 have fled into southern Niger's Diffa region in recent days to escape fresh violence in Nigeria. A further 4,000 Nigerians have fled to Cameroon
In her case, Mariama claims, "Men from Boko Haram [a militant group] had come to attack a military base. Our village is nearby so the military then came to attack us" in the early morning. "It was around 6pm when we heard gunshots. The gunfire struck our house and exploded like a bomb," the 47-year-old tells UNHCR visitors to the border town of Bosso in Diffa region, a granddaughter sprawled on her lap.
She says the explosions were grenades, hurled indiscriminately at her home, sparking a fire that levelled the entire village. "We fled without shoes, without anything, carrying our children as we could."
The security situation in parts of north-eastern Nigeria has been deteriorating since May 2013, when the government declared a state of emergency in three states - Adamawa, Borno and Yobe - and launched a military operation to put down the insurgency. Recurrent attacks by rebel groups on civilians and security personnel have increased since 2012.
A recent report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that more than 1,200 people, including civilians, military and insurgents, have been killed. As a result of the attacks, many Nigerians have reported a pattern of preemptive flight: once insurgents attack, civilians flee immediately in fear of a possible army reprisal.
As her village burned, Mariama fled to the bush with her husband and their 10 children, drinking water from puddles. After three days, she says, the army returned, triggering panic and fear among those in hiding. People fled in all directions; Mariama and her family made their way on foot to Bosso.
Mariama's friend Sahadatou, who calls in for a chat, was also in Baga on the day of the attack. Sitting among the clothes, blankets and buckets, she says she came out of hiding to help her injured neighbours. "So many died in the fire, but the bodies were burned so badly, we couldn't identify them," she says, adding: "We don't even know how many died." She too fled to Niger.
A Niger government census released in November revealed that more than 37,000 people-including 8,000 Nigerians and nearly 30,000 Niger nationals-had fled into the Diffa region since last May. A small number of third-country nationals have also sought refuge in the area. In December, the government started granting temporary refugee status to Nigerians fleeing to Niger from the three affected states.
Since the start of the influx, local communities have welcomed displaced people into their villages and homes, making land or rooms available. The mayor of Bosso, Aboubacar Marah, set the example by hosting nearly 100 people, mostly women and children. "I've never seen anything like it," he says of the influx. "The border is only 100 meters from here and we hear shooting at night from the other side."
To respond to the influx, UNHCR deployed an emergency protection team in May.
"Our team had to adapt quickly to the hidden nature of the crisis," says Yvette Muhimpundu, a senior protection officer. "We are incredibly grateful that the community welcomed the displaced into their homes so we are focusing on strengthening the resilience of both the refugees and the host community."
She says the goal of this community approach is to foster peaceful coexistence. By ensuring that the shelter, food, security and health needs of the refugees and the locals are met, both communities will benefit equally from UNHCR's support.
In partnership with other humanitarian agencies, UNHCR has distributed relief items and will launch a shelter programme to better accommodate displaced people. In addition, the government of Niger will issue identity cards to the displaced this year, while the World Food Programme will distribute food to the most vulnerable families among those who fled Nigeria.
As for Mariama and her family, the warm reception and help that they have received here has helped to make their situation more bearable. But more than anything, she's thankful she found peace. "Even if I'm not in a real house, I can sleep in peace and security. There is no question of going back now, it's too insecure."
She and her family are doing their best to provide for themselves; she sells pancakes in the market, her daughter works as a seamstress and her husband is cultivating a plot of fertile land near Lake Chad. Despite her new life as a refugee, Mariama's physical and mental state has dramatically improved.
"If you had seen me when I arrived, you would have pitied me," she tells UNHCR. "But now I'm recovered and I'm strong. No pity now."
By Kathryn Mahoney in Bosso, Niger
Related news and stories
Displaced people from climate frontlines raise their voices at COP27
UN warns of worsening conflict and displacement in Sahel without immediate climate action
UNHCR calls for urgent support to assist almost 16,000 newly displaced in Burkina Faso who fled massacre
Niger - hosting 250,000 refugees, and 250,000 displaced internally, needs more international support
Communities in Niger adapt to displacement and a changing climate
IOM and UNHCR call for more international support to Niger after joint visit
Your search for « Nigeria » matched 2531 results. Only the first 1,000 results are displayed. Displaying page 6 of 112 pages.
-
44-Nigeria
6 Oct 2020 ... from within, the Federal Government of Nigeria has been flexible at all its borders with ... In consequence, Nigeria has close to three million Persons of Concern including the internally ...... -
Nigeria violence sees 23,000 refugees flee into Niger in last month alone
12 May 2020 ... north-western Nigeria forced an estimated 23,000 people to seek safety and security in Niger last month (April). This takes the total number of refugees fleeing that part of Nigeria to take sanctuary ...... -
Nigeria military advances uncover vast humanitarian needs
19 Aug 2016 ... GENEVA – Gains made by a military campaign against Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria have in recent ... The push by Nigerian Government forces in cooperation with the Multi-National Joint Task Force has ...... -
Some 5,500 Nigerians flee to Cameroon and Niger
24 Jan 2014 ... Recent clashes between the Nigerian Army and insurgent groups in the north-east of the country have ... with refugees from the area around Banki, a town just across the border in Nigeria's Borno State. ...... -
Nigeria Refugee Crisis - A Journey of Survival
10 Apr 2015 ... Plan (RRRP) for Nigerian refugees. This appeal is urgently seeking USD 174.4 million to protect and assist some 192,000 people who have fled brutal attacks by insurgents in north-eastern Nigeria. ...... -
As Boko Haram violence surges, UNHCR seeks US$135 million to aid displaced
29 Jan 2019 ... other partners, is today launching the 2019 Nigeria Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP), an ... With more 250,000 children, women and men already uprooted from northeast Nigeria, surging militant ...... -
Nigerian widow opens her doors to Cameroonian refugees
24 Jun 2019 ... Nigerian's compassion grants Cameroonian refugee solace When the insecurity in Cameroon’s restive ... She found that safer place in Nigeria. “When I came to Nigeria, I had no place to stay,” says ...... -
Nigerian's compassion grants Cameroonian refugee solace
24 Jun 2019 ... the country. Many who have crossed into neighbouring Nigeria fled with very little belongings and are receiving support from their Nigerian hosts. See also: Nigerian widow opens her doors to ...... -
2017 Winner
... up amid violence in northeastern Nigeria, is the 2017 winner of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award. ... Mustapha’s work in the region also includes mediating between Boko Haram and the Nigerian ......