In May 2019, 20,000 refugees fleeing violent attacks against villages in Sokoto state in Nigeria found refuge in Guidan-Roumdji, a district located in Maradi region in Niger. Living conditions for local populations are already precarious, and the seasonal malaria and malnutrition peak is expected next month. MSF teams, who work in Maradi region, did an assessment and donated drugs and supplies to health structures. We are not planning an emergency response at the moment but we will continue to monitor the situation in Guidan-Roumdji and bring ad hoc support from our regular program in Maradi. In some areas, the number of refugees hosted outgrows the locals who did their best to accommodate the new arrivals.

Niger is home to 200,000 refugees, the majority of them coming from Nigeria, and nearly as many of internally displaced people. In addition, Niger has provided safety to over 2,700 refugees evacuated from Libya and awaiting there resettlement in third countries.