معسكر اللاجئين السودانين في دولة النيجر .. يتعرض للحرق؟!

Quote: Sudanese refugees in Niger say they have been living in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation after security forces cracked down on protests calling for better living conditions. Refugees have been sleeping in the desert despite low temperatures since their camp in Agadez was almost completely burned down last month after a sit-in was forcibly dispersed by Nigerien security forces. The Nigerien authorities said they arrested 355 people immediately after the fire. The refugees have accused the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, of neglect. They also deny the agency’s claim that they burned their own tents in protest. “The Nigerien forces right now are using fear and intimidation against the refugees because of our humanitarian demands,” said Hamada Mohammed, a refugee activist who has been stuck in Niger since 2017. He said at least 200 people are still imprisoned by Nigerien authorities. Like many of the camp’s residents, Mohammed is from the Darfur region of Sudan, where former president Omar al-Bashir has been accused of genocide against Darfuri communities. A statement circulated by Sudanese activists, “Save the refugees in Niger”, accused UNHCR officials of “aligning with the Nigerien government”. The protest began on 16 December, when refugees from the camp marched to the UNHCR headquarters in Agadez town. They staged a sit-in to demand better living conditions and more clarity on their applications for resettlement. On 4 January, they were forced back to the camp by Nigerien police and during the clashes that followed a fire gutted many of the tents.