The United Nations says the closure of borders and airspace
in the Niger Republic is cutting off supplies of medicine and food to the
landlocked country.
The Niger’s military junta has warned citizens to brace up
for challenging weeks and months ahead as soldiers maintain their stance to
defend the country against possible attacks.
Part of the defence actions taken by the junta was closing
the country’s airspace on Sunday.
Reacting to the decision on Tuesday, Louise Aubin, the UN
humanitarian chief in Niger, said any humanitarian cutbacks could have
devastating impacts in Niger.
The country has one of highest rates of child mortality in
the world while its rural communities have been hit by a deadly Islamist
insurgency.
The UN was already set to provide emergency assistance to
over four million people before the power grab that ousted President Mohamed
Bazoum.
“The risk is that we start running out of assistance
materials to be able to help out people – I’m talking about simple things that
are so life-saving,” Aubin told Reuters
The UN official listed food, vaccines, and cash as areas of
concern.
“The people of Niger are likely to suffer more and so we
need to be able to respond very, very strongly,” Aubin added.
Meanwhile, a joint peace mission with representatives of the
African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and
the UN was denied permission to land in Niger by the junta.
Victoria Nuland, United States acting deputy secretary of
state, had also been denied permission to meet with coup leader, Abdourahamane
Tiani, or with Bazoum, who is in detention.
Instead, she spoke for two hours with other army officers.
“These conversations were extremely frank and at times quite
difficult, because, again, we’re pushing for a negotiated solution,” Nuland
said.
“They are quite firm in their view of how they want to
proceed, and it does not comport with the Constitution of Niger.”
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