FAO/Luis Tato Women in Niger practice sustainable harvesting of forest resources.
The United Nations has continued to provide assistance in Niger since President Bazoum of Niger was detained by guards nearly three weeks ago.
Speaking to reporters at headquarters in New York today, UN Secretary-General spokesman Dujarric said that despite challenges such as the rainy season, UN agencies continue to lend a helping hand to the people of Niger.
Some 4.3 million people in this West African country depend on humanitarian assistance.
Last week, 22,000 people in the downtown Maradi district received cash assistance and food.
"We and humanitarian partners are also working with the de facto authorities to find and prepare a settlement site in Orogueilacho in the Tilabery region to house some 13,000 IDPs," Dujarric said. ”
He added that people in several villages had been displaced in mid-July before the current political crisis erupted.
Mediation and attention
The United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States have condemned the attempt to overthrow President Bazoum.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other senior UN officials have repeatedly called for the reinstatement of the democratically elected leader, who remains under house arrest.
Last week, Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Türk expressed concern about reports that President Bazoum and his family were facing power, water, food and medical care.
Türk said on Friday that "those who detain the president must ensure that the human rights of the president and all other detainees are fully respected and protected."
The Secretary-General's Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Simão, also warned that the security situation in Niger could deteriorate unless the political crisis in Niger is resolved.
The United Nations supports ECOWAS mediation efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger.
At a meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, last Thursday, the regional group ordered the immediate activation of the intervention force.
This follows an extraordinary summit in Abuja, a few days after the crisis erupted, and issued a communiqué calling for President Bazoum to return to power within a week.
According to the latest media reports, the leader of the de facto authorities in Niger plans to prosecute President Bazoum for treason and undermining internal and external security.
