Nigerian refugees strain Chad, Niger

The influx of refugees has put further strain on some of the poorest nations in Africa, which are already struggling to feed and protect their own people in a region that is recovering from drought.Amnesty International says Boko Haram may have killed some 2 000 people around January. 3 in Baga in Nigeria.The sect, which […]

The influx of refugees has put further strain on some of the poorest nations in Africa, which are already struggling to feed and protect their own people in a region that is recovering from drought.
Amnesty International says Boko Haram may have killed some 2 000 people around January. 3 in Baga in Nigeria.
The sect, which is trying to carve out an Islamic state in the largely Muslim north of Nigeria, has killed thousands in a five-year rebellion which is seen as the biggest security threat to Africa’s top oil producer.
In the past 10 days, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates 6 000 Nigerian refugees have fled into Cameroon and a further 1 500 have gone to Niger.
Chad estimates 13 000 people have entered its western Lake Chad region. Some have drowned in their attempt to flee, others have been left stranded on lake islands awaiting rescue boats.
“We are preparing for things getting much worse, not better,” said Karl Steinacker, UNHCR country representative in Niger, where around 150,000 people have taken shelter since the insurgency in Nigeria began five years ago.
“In Diffa, people can no longer cross into Nigeria for work as it’s too dangerous. But farmers in Niger are exporting to Nigeria where prices are higher due to the violence, so locals can’t afford to eat,” Steinacker said by telephone from Niamey.