Violence drives 64,000 Nigerians across the border into Niger, UNHCR says
The UN refugee agency says 64,000 people have fled northern Nigeria to Niger since January, and several hundred more have crossed into Benin. UNHCR is seeking $11.4 million as host communities struggle to cope.
Violence in northern Nigeria has pushed 64,000 people into neighbouring Niger since the start of the year, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday. Several hundred more have fled to Benin. The agency told UN News that a humanitarian crisis is growing across the region and host countries are struggling to cope. Northern Nigeria faces several security crises at once: jihadist insurgencies, armed banditry and clashes between farmers and herders. These conflicts have forced millions from their homes over the past 25 years. Before 2026, Niger already hosted more than half a million refugees and asylum-seekers, including some 327,500 from Nigeria. It also has large numbers of internally displaced people. Arrivals have continued in recent weeks. In October alone, around 1,200 people crossed into Diffa in south-eastern Niger and another 3,400 into Tahoua in the west. Conditions are worst in Diffa, which accounts for more than 70 per cent of Niger's reported security incidents this year. Drought and irregular rain have also hit farming. Grain harvests are expected to fall short in around 700 of the region's 1,000 villages. An estimated…
Read more 2 min read