Tens of thousands of people have fled from Nigeria into neighboring Niger and Benin, and the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, is raising the alarm about what is unfolding on the ground. Speaking from Geneva on Tuesday, the agency warned that the situation is deepening, with malnutrition and disease already beginning to surface among displaced populations.
UNHCR is calling for millions in emergency aid to fill what it describes as critical gaps in the humanitarian response. Without urgent funding, the agency fears the crisis will worsen significantly for communities that are already stretched beyond their limits.
The situation in both Niger and Benin bears watching closely. As more Nigerians cross the border in search of safety, the pressure on host communities and local resources continues to grow.
Originally published by AllAfrica · info@allafrica.com (allAfrica).