Humanitarian action
Reaching children in greatest need and at greatest risk is at the heart of UNICEF’s humanitarian action.
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Challenges
The Niger faces acute and chronic humanitarian crises that are unlikely to improve in the coming years.
In 2019, 50 per cent of people in need in the Niger will be located in the three regions affected by population movement—Diffa, Tahoua and Tillabéry. While fewer people (nearly 25,000) are expected to be displaced in Diffa Region than in previous years, the fragile security and humanitarian situations at the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali (Tillabéry and Tahoua regions) are expected to worsen.
An estimated 100,000 additional people may be displaced in 2019, adding to the 48,000 already displaced. Across the country, 2.3 million people, including 1.3 million children, will require humanitarian assistance in 2019.
Over 380,000 children are at risk of severe acute malnutrition (SAM),299,000 children are at risk due to flooding and 600,000 children are at risk due to epidemics such as measles, cholera and meningitis. Needs will be acute in the regions bordering Burkina Faso and Mali, where vulnerabilities were high prior to the emergency3 and have been heightened by crisis and population movement.
While a civil-military coordination mechanism was created in 2018, major physical and security constraints continue to impede humanitarian access in Tillabéry and Tahoua.
Solutions
In 2019, UNICEF will respond to both chronic and acute crises in the Niger. The linkages between humanitarian action and development programming will be strengthened and operationalized, particularly in the Diffa region, and emergency capacity to respond to acute crises will be improved through the strengthened Rapid Response Mechanism.
In Tahoua and Tillabéry regions, strategic partnerships and innovative community-based approaches will help UNICEF and partners overcome access challenges and reach vulnerable populations with multi-sectoral support.
UNICEF will continue to strengthen national health and nutrition systems to deliver services in emergencies, including SAM prevention and treatment, measles and polio vaccination and free health care for children under 5 years.
UNICEF will prioritize increasing access to quality school services for children affected by crises and building the resilience of schools. Conflict-affected children will receive comprehensive child protection services. The cholera prevention package will be strengthened and access to safe water will include both immediate and durable solutions.
UNICEF will maintain its preparedness capacity through contingency stocks, partnerships and human and financial resources; and a cash transfer strategy will be developed and implemented. Efforts will also focus on strengthening coordination and leveraging resources for prevention and risk mitigation.
Resources
These resources represent just a small selection of materials on humanitarian response produced by UNICEF and its partners in Niger. The list is regularly updated to include the latest information.
Humanitarian Action for Children - UNICEF Niger 2019
