Rising humanitarian crisis as displaced families flood Téra in western Niger

Local reports indicate a significant surge of internally displaced persons in the commune of Téra, located in western Niger. The town and its outskirts have seen a dramatic population increase as families flee villages in the southern part of the department, a movement that has intensified since the end of last month.

Humanitarian situation worsens for displaced families

The neighboring area of Diagourou is reportedly being deserted. According to various sources, militants from Jnim (the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims) issued ultimatums to residents across approximately thirty villages, forcing them to abandon their homes. Diagourou is situated just ten kilometers from Téra, a strategic garrison town that serves as the headquarters for Defense Zone Number 9. This region, positioned on the right bank of the Niger River, sits within the volatile “three borders” zone shared with Burkina Faso and Mali, where both Jnim and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIS) are active.

Those arriving in Téra are facing extremely difficult living conditions. Witnesses describe a dire situation where many families, including women and young children, are forced to live in the open air. Some have found temporary shelter on vacant plots of land, while others are being taken in by local host families whose resources are already stretched thin.

While official statistics regarding this latest wave of displacement are not yet available, the scale is believed to be substantial. The villages within the Diagourou commune typically house thousands of residents, all of whom are now caught in this security crisis.