Ouallam, the forgotten crisis

Ouallam is one of the hottest places in Niger, which is one of the hottest countries in Africa; Where it rarely rains, but the displaced are trying to find shelter from the escalating violence and terrorist activities that have affected the region.

Ouallam and two other neighboring areas in northern Niger are currently home to about 28,000 people who have fled their homes in the troubled coastal region of Africa due to violence, including terrorist acts. About 8,000 people have been displaced as refugees from their northern neighbors and another 20,000 from 18 neighboring villages and towns.

The UN refugee agency says there are more than 250,000 refugees from neighboring countries in Niger. In March 2022 alone, UN partners reported that more than 17,600 people had been displaced to Niger, most of them Nigerians.

UN agencies and their partners offer a wide range of humanitarian and development assistance throughout Niger. It is estimated that 6.8 million people live in food insecurity. Low rainfall and terrorist attacks in agricultural areas have reduced the amount of food grown by farmers.
 
Despite a combination of crises, the 2022 Humanitarian Response Program for Niger's budget is only 8.7%.

Ouallam and surrounding areas are an example of the challenges facing Niger, a landlocked country in West Africa where, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), some 264,000 are from Nigeria due to a range of factors such as deteriorating security and its effects. They have been displaced to this country.

_{Source and Credit: UN news, UNHCR, UNICEF}