The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has called for the urgent creation of a humanitarian corridor in Niger to ensure the delivery of the necessary aid to the region.

IOM regional director Christopher Gascon made the call in a statement on Friday, stating that over 710,000 displaced persons in the country need humanitarian aid.

“More than 710,000 individuals, including refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons, are displaced in Niger,” he said.

On Thursday, Niger’s coup leaders announced the suspension of all non-governmental organisations, international watchdogs, and UN missions in the areas of military operations in the country.

“IOM strongly advocates for the authorities to establish a humanitarian corridor to enable the organisation to organise the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of vulnerable migrants stranded in Niger to their countries of origin,” Mr Gascon was quoted as saying in the statement.

Mr Gascon also believed that the corridor would “facilitate the delivery of aid” to the country’s regions most affected by the recent events.

He added that “border closures and airspace restrictions have triggered transformations in migration patterns,” which undermine the security of migrants.

A coup took place in Niger on July 26. Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his guard, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani.

Following the coup, ECOWAS suspended all cooperation with Niger and threatened invasion if the putschists did not reinstate Mr Bazoum.

In early August, during a summit in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, ECOWAS leaders agreed to activate a standby force to compel the Nigerien military to reinstate Mr Bazoum.

On August 18, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs Abdel-Fatau Musah said the block’s general staff chiefs had agreed on the date for invading Niger but would not make it public. 

(Sputnik/NAN)