Due to the crisis caused by Boko Haram in 2015, the sparsely populated Diffa region became home to more than 265,000 displaced persons and refugees mostly from Nigeria and Tchad. Host communities are demonstrating exceptional resilience and openness. In order to revitalize the deeply affected local economy, UNHCR and its partners launched an innovative program in 2017 called « Kallo Tchidaniwo » meaning « Building Together » in Kanouri, the regional dialect used both in Niger and Nigeria.
With the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) financial support, this program aims at providing access to land for housing to vulnerable refugees, displaced and host households and enabling the construction of community houses in seven districts of the Diffa region. The districts have generously made land available to those populations allowing them to build a better future.
This project translates into action the commitment of the Government of Niger during the Global Refugee Forum. Nevertheless, the steady deterioration of the security situation in the Diffa region still hampers the work of UNHCR and its partners.
The dynamic relation between UNHCR and the Government allows to implement innovative solutions for refugees in Niger, next to protection and assistance. With the support of the EU Trust Fund, UNHCR is able to implement its alternative to camp approach for Nigerian refugees in the Diffa region.
Details
- Publication date
- 5 November 2020
- Region and Country
- Regional
- Thematic
- Improved migration management
- Partner
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees