UNHCR says 5,692 Nigerian refugees now in Niger, Cameroon

No fewer than 5,692 Nigerian are now living as refugees in Niger Republic and Cameroon following continued crisis in three northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has reported.
At a media briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, Adrian Edwards, UNHCR Spokesman said a team that visited the Nigeria-Cameroon border in the far north region on Friday reported the presence of over 3,000 Nigerians.
He said, “Crossings of Nigerians into Cameroon began a week ago, with people telling us they had fled a confrontation between the Nigerian Army and Boko Haram insurgents some 10 kilometers from border.
“Most of those who have arrived so far are women and children. They are being hosted in churches and schools, and relying on food from the churches and local population. We are working with the authorities to relocate the refugees to safer places away from the border”.
Edwards said the Agency had sent relief aid by trucks from Niamey, Niger Republic to the south eastern Diffa region, “where over 6,000 persons have arrived from northern Nigeria in the past weeks.
“That figure includes Nigerian nationals (2,692) as well as returning Niger nationals (3,544) and others (mainly Chadians). Mats, blankets, jerry cans, soaps, buckets, mosquito nets and kitchen items have been pre-positioned in Diffa, Bosso, Kablewa and Menesewa and will be distributed to both Nigerian refugees and Nigerien returnees, “he said.
According to the UNHCR spokesman, “Most of the new arrivals in Niger are women and children coming from rural villages across the border and from Maiduguri and Baga towns”.
He said further that as at 11 June, gunshots were heard in Malam Fatouri, a village on the Nigeria side, near the border, prompting most of the population to flee into Niger. He said “they travelled by foot and motorcycles and found refuge with host families just across the border.
“Hundreds of new arrivals have also been reported in an area some 60 km north of Diffa, according to local authorities.
Edwards however, admitted that the UNCHR team observed that some displaced Nigerians were returning home after a few days in Niger or shuttling between the two countries depending on the security situation in Nigeria.
It will be recalled that President Jonathan, in May declared a state of emergency on three northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa to contain the activities of the Islamist insurgents that seemed to have defied all logic.