Diffa - The humanitarian situation of the local population in Diffa, where scores of victims of the Boko Haram attacks have sought refuge, is worsening following the withdrawal of medical professionals that had been providing services since the upsurge of terror.
Recent attacks by the armed Islamic militant group in the city of Diffa and increasing insecurity have forced Doctors without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières to temporarily withdraw its teams from the area.
“Our intention is to return as soon as possible to know where people have moved, under what conditions they are right now and how best to provide appropriate assistance,” said Mohamed Morchid, Project Manager for MSF in Niger.
The MSF team has been temporarily relocated to other parts of the country but is currently mobilizing added resources to return to the Diffa area to help the populations affected. The organization plans to return in the coming days to provide reinforced medical services to the displaced and refugee populations.
The upsurge of violence following Boko Haram's recent attacks in southeast Niger has caused concern about the humanitarian situation of the local population.
“The population from Diffa started to flee and it is still not clear where they have been displaced. Hundreds of vehicles have left the city since the last attacks,” said Morchid.
“Our concern now is that the worrying humanitarian situation could be moving to other areas of the country as well as the Nigerian refugees in the Diffa area with no resources who have remained because they have been unable to flee to anywhere else.”
More than 150 000 Nigerians have sought refuge in Diffa.
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