A humanitarian emergency continues to mobilize the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in the Diffa region of Niger, on the border with Nigeria. Since February 2015, the conflict that was mainly affecting north-east Nigeria has spread to Niger, bringing death and displacement, with people fleeing yet again, under dangerous and difficult conditions. Many thousands of refugees, returnees and displaced persons are only surviving thanks to the solidarity of host families and aid from humanitarian organizations.
Since the conflict started, almost 160,000 people have received emergency food rations and over 17,500 have received household essential distributed by the ICRC and the Red Cross Society of Niger. Around 75,000 now have better access to water, thanks to 30 new water points. Diffa's regional hospital has been able to treat over 380 casualties after the ICRC provided material, medicines and specialized personnel.
The ICRC has registered and visited several hundred people detained in connection with the conflict, to assess their conditions of detention and ensure that they are being decently treated. Some of these detainees have been able to exchange messages with their families.
