HIGHLIGHTS
4,050 Vulnerable displaced and host families living outside and inside the camps in the Diffa region received gas bottles in the month of May
1,902 Nigerian refugees assisted to voluntarily relocate from spontaneous sites to Sayam Forage camp in Diffa
910 Malian refugees assisted to voluntarily repatriate to Mali in 2016
400 Malian refugee families from Tabareybarey camp to receive land plots under the Urbanization project in Ayorou town
MAIN ACTIVITIES
Protection
Nigeria situation: Throughout the month of May, UNHCR assisted 1,902 Nigerian refugees to relocate from the spontaneous sites at Chetimari and Gagamari on the Route National 1, to the refugee camp of Sayam Forage. They state that they wished to move to the camp due to a lack of economic opportunities, and due to the insecurity closer to the border.
Mali situation: In 2016 so far, UNHCR have assisted 910 Malian refugees to voluntarily repatriate to Mali. Approximately 5,000 more have registered their interest in returning in the coming months. UNHCR are providing information and will provide financial assistance during the repatriation process.
Livelihoods
- Mali situation: During the month of May, 100 youth in the camp of Mangaize completed a vocational training programme in skills including sewing, metalwork, and mechanics. They were all presented with certificates and starter kits to allow them to use the new skills they have developed towards generating income.
Health
- Nigeria situation: In the Kabelawa IDP camp, increasing levels of malnutrition have been reported. To respond to this a large scale screening campaign was launched in the health centre of the local town. Additionally, due to population increase in the IDP camp, health partner APBE have launched the construction of a separate health centre within the camp, to respond to the needs of the growing population.
Shelter:
- Mali situation: In the town of Ayorou, 400 refugee families from the camp of Tabareybarey and 50 host families have been identified – based on vulnerabilities, as beneficiaries of service land plots under the Urbanization project, where they will be free to move and build their homes. The project provides a sustainable solution to refugees who do not intend to return to Mali. It additionally targets vulnerable host families, thus contributing to peaceful coexistence.
Energy
- Nigeria situation: May marked the first distributions of gas outside of the camps, under a new project (SEED – Soutien Energetique et Environmental a la region de Diffa. This project is set to benefit 20,000 displaced and vulnerable host families in the Diffa region. In the course of the first month, a total of 3,650 families have already benefitted from gas distributions, while an additional 400 families in the camps also received gas bottles in the month of May.