Severe hunger and flood related damage are a major concern in Iferouane, Northern Niger. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) spokesperson Marcel Izard stated, “We got a request from the mayor who said they have a humanitarian crisis due to floods and the security situation which has cut the city off.” However, while humanitarian aid groups attempt to provide resources to the struggling, mines placed by anti government fighters have made access to this remote city impossible.
Since February 2007, in Iferouana, the Nigerian army and foreign mining companies have been targeted by a militant group called National Movement for Justice (MNJ). The MNJ are presently campaigning for more autonomy for the ethnic group, Toureg. Furthermore, the MNJ want a percentage of Niger’s oil resources.
Presently, the Niger government is trying to increase security in region by deploying troops and attack helicopters. While, the army and MNJ have provided ICRC security methods and guides to cross the mined areas, the ICRC aid still has not gotten through to the flood damaged areas.
ICRC spokesperson Izard stated “We are not concerned about either the rebels or the army, only the antipersonnel and antitank mines. We have already had security guarantees from both sides but the mines make it very unsafe to go because the floods mean the mines could have shifted, even if we are told exactly where they were laid.
For more information, please see:
AllAfrica – Niger: Despite Security Assurances, Mines Keep Aid Agencies Out of North – 13 August 2007
AllSafeTravels.com – Niger – MNJ Attack Two Towns in North – 10 August 2007
IFRC – The ICRC in Niger – August 2007
