Malian Refugees from Tazalite welcomed by refugee community in Intikane following voluntary relocation
Malian Refugees from Tazalite welcomed by refugee community in Intikane following voluntary relocation
UNHCR, 30 Jan 2017
URL: http://unhcrniger.tumblr.com/
Malian refugees who have been residing in the ‘refugee hosting area’ of Tazalit, many for over 4 years, are currently moving towards the second hosting area of Intikane, following the decision of the Government of Niger to close Tazalit hosting area. In October 2016, a violent attack was carried out against the military security point at Tazalit, which resulted in the tragic loss of 22 military personnel. For security reasons, the Government took the decision in November to close the hosting area, giving the refugees the option to move to Intikane, joining over 18,000 refugees already residing in the area. UNHCR has been supporting the voluntary relocation of those refugees who have decided to relocate, ensuring adherence to international protection principles.
The relocation process began on the 21st of January and will be completed this week (31st of January 2017). So far, over 1,000 refugees have been assisted to make the journey to Intikane. The decision to relocate is voluntary, and thus not all refugees have decided to move. UNHCR and partners carried out multiple awareness raising sessions with both the refugee and local populations regarding the process. For those refugees who decide not to move to Intikane, UNHCR will continue to support them in terms of the provision of refugee identity cards, ensure that they can access civil documentation services, and assist them to develop a community based protection mechanism, in collaboration with the local police force and community authorities. However, other forms of assistance and distribution will no longer be delivered in Tazalit.
The two refugee hosting areas in Tahoua region were initially established as an ‘alternative to camps’ option, specifically for nomadic, pastoralist – predominantly Touareg refugees, to enable them to continue their traditional way of life, with their livestock, in Niger. Thus during the relocation process, UNHCR also assisted with the transportation of over 550 small livestock. Larger animals will be brought on foot over the coming days.
The relocation process presents many challenges, most particularly in terms of the capacity to provide basic services to the newly arriving refugees, as well as those already there, including the local population. UNHCR and partners have been working on improving basic infrastructure at Intikane since the arrival of the first refugees in 2012, in order to ensure that the refugees can benefit from services at the same level as local population. With the arrival of more refugees from Tazalit, it is essential that UNHCR and other humanitarian and development actors engage in a communal plan and vision, to improve the local infrastructure – benefitting both local and host populations, and to ensure that the refugee population can become gradually self-sufficient, through various livelihoods interventions, and support for pastoral activities.
For the newly arriving refugees from Tazalit, the refugee leaders of Intikane have iterated that they will be warmly welcomed. According to Adrouhamane Ag Mohamed, a refugee leader in Intikane, “we see the relocation like a reunification of two of Mali peoples, fleeing the same threats in our country. We have always had good relations, which will enable us to live in harmony in Intikane”. He emphasized the fact that “challenges exist in terms of access to water and grazing land for livestock” however, with the support of the authorities’, UNHCR and partners, he and the other leaders believe that solutions can be found.
Following the relocation process, UNHCR will carry out a BIMS (Biometric Identity Management System) verification process of all of the refugee populations at Intikane. Refugees will be issued with biometric identity cards, which are an important protection tool. This new system was piloted in Niamey in November 2016, where over 3,000 urban refugees were granted biometric identity cards. IT will now be scaled up to include all Malian refugees present in Niger.
The relocation process began on the 21st of January and will be completed this week (31st of January 2017). So far, over 1,000 refugees have been assisted to make the journey to Intikane. The decision to relocate is voluntary, and thus not all refugees have decided to move. UNHCR and partners carried out multiple awareness raising sessions with both the refugee and local populations regarding the process. For those refugees who decide not to move to Intikane, UNHCR will continue to support them in terms of the provision of refugee identity cards, ensure that they can access civil documentation services, and assist them to develop a community based protection mechanism, in collaboration with the local police force and community authorities. However, other forms of assistance and distribution will no longer be delivered in Tazalit.
The two refugee hosting areas in Tahoua region were initially established as an ‘alternative to camps’ option, specifically for nomadic, pastoralist – predominantly Touareg refugees, to enable them to continue their traditional way of life, with their livestock, in Niger. Thus during the relocation process, UNHCR also assisted with the transportation of over 550 small livestock. Larger animals will be brought on foot over the coming days.
The relocation process presents many challenges, most particularly in terms of the capacity to provide basic services to the newly arriving refugees, as well as those already there, including the local population. UNHCR and partners have been working on improving basic infrastructure at Intikane since the arrival of the first refugees in 2012, in order to ensure that the refugees can benefit from services at the same level as local population. With the arrival of more refugees from Tazalit, it is essential that UNHCR and other humanitarian and development actors engage in a communal plan and vision, to improve the local infrastructure – benefitting both local and host populations, and to ensure that the refugee population can become gradually self-sufficient, through various livelihoods interventions, and support for pastoral activities.
For the newly arriving refugees from Tazalit, the refugee leaders of Intikane have iterated that they will be warmly welcomed. According to Adrouhamane Ag Mohamed, a refugee leader in Intikane, “we see the relocation like a reunification of two of Mali peoples, fleeing the same threats in our country. We have always had good relations, which will enable us to live in harmony in Intikane”. He emphasized the fact that “challenges exist in terms of access to water and grazing land for livestock” however, with the support of the authorities’, UNHCR and partners, he and the other leaders believe that solutions can be found.
Following the relocation process, UNHCR will carry out a BIMS (Biometric Identity Management System) verification process of all of the refugee populations at Intikane. Refugees will be issued with biometric identity cards, which are an important protection tool. This new system was piloted in Niamey in November 2016, where over 3,000 urban refugees were granted biometric identity cards. IT will now be scaled up to include all Malian refugees present in Niger.