Yawaré – On World Humanitarian Day on 19 August, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) handed over to the government of Niger the Yawaré transit centre for victims of natural disasters and vulnerable migrants, built and equipped with funding from the government of Japan. Two months into Niger's rainy season, more than 78,000 people in the seven regions of the landlocked West African country have been affected by consecutive floods.

According to the Niger General Directorate for Civil Protection (DGPC), heavy rains have led to the death of 40 people, damaged 6,000 houses, swamped farmlands, and killed hundreds of livestock. The regions of Zinder, Diffa, Tillabéri and Maradi are among the hardest hit. According to local actors involved in flood preparedness, more than 350,000 people could be affected by floods this year in Niger. “Our country is facing consequences of climate change marked by the occurrence of various disasters such as floods”, said Mr. Hamadou Amadou Souley, the Nigerien Minister of Interior and Decentralisation. “The creation of the Yawaré transit centre is part of the government's vision to ensure that people affected by all types of disasters and in difficult situations are received with respect for human dignity and international standards.”

The newly constructed transit centre and its facilities will allow the Niger General Directorate for Civil Protection to provide temporary shelter to flood-affected people. The Yawaré multipurpose transit centre offers an essential solution for the temporary shelter of stranded and returning migrants, while ensuring compliance with public health measures required to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Each year, the centre will be able to accommodate approximately 4,300 people who will benefit from temporary shelter, including 2,500 flood-affected people and 1,800 migrants. Located 11 kilometres away, the centre serves the capital city of Niamey, which has seen a temporary emergency evacuation site for flood victims, located on its outskirts, damaged by harsh weather conditions in 2021. The infrastructure is built on 1.5 hectares and has 10 dormitories, seven of which are for women and children, as well as three dormitories for men, with all the amenities to offer an adequate temporary stay to the beneficiaries. “There is no greater tangible symbol of our efforts on World Humanitarian Day,” said United Nations Resident Coordinator in Niger, Louise Aubin. “It goes without saying that these efforts are part of a disaster response strategy, with a legal and administrative framework that allows us all to operate clearly in transparency and solidarity.”

For more information, please contact Aïssatou Sy, Public Information Officer at IOM Niger. email: aisy@iom.int; tel: +227 80 06 65 31