ECHO funding for continued response in Niger

The Boko Haram crisis in the Lake Chad basin has impacted hard on the Diffa region in south east Niger. Before the first attacks on Niger soil in February 2015 the region was already host to over 100,000 refugees from Nigeria. Over the subsequent 2 ½ years the region has remained under a state of emergency and has been subjected to over 200 armed offensives during which over 500 civilians have been killed, injured or abducted. As a result, some 248,000 people are currently displaced within the Diffa region, with significant humanitarian needs across all sectors.

IAS has been engaged in WASH activities in Diffa since April 2016 and has to date drilled 29 boreholes to supply clean water to both displaced and host populations. However, despite the efforts of IAS and other international and local actors, needs for a safe and accessible water supply remain high, with water points being severely overcrowded in many sites.This is why IAS is pleased to announce the receipt of funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) (www.ec.europa.eu/echo) that will allow us to continue responding to the humanitarian needs in Diffa. The allocated funding of € 1,420,000 from 1 September 2017 to 31 August 2019 will allow us to provide safe and accessible water to 30,000 beneficiaries through the construction of 20 machine-drilled boreholes equipped with solar-powered pumps, water towers and tap stands. These new water points will be accompanied by hygiene training for all beneficiaries.

IAS is pleased to partner with ECHO in saving the lives of the displaced and host populations in Diffa.

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DISCLAIMER - This news and press release covers humanitarian aid activities implemented with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the European Union, and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.