On December 2017 I arrived in Diffa region (southeastern Niger), the city which is the Nigerien corner of Lake Chad conflict and humanitarian crises. The place where today 17 million people affected since the beginning of the conflict in the region.

In Niger’s part number 2,3 millions. Populations in repeated displacement since 2014 in welcoming areas: 340 thousand people directly affected, among them 105 thousand refugees, 129 thousand IDP’s.

Diffa is located in western corner of this humanitarian crises. Facing underdevelopment for many years, a forgotten region compared to some other in the country. From Damasak to Malafata, 150 km of border – it’s kind of remote region, economically depending on Nigeria (Niamey being far and Nigeria close. Population sharing the same historical identity with neighboring countries in the region; North Nigeria, North Cameroon, Lake Tchad surroundings.

Since 2013: Diffa is facing permanent threats, and sometimes attacks from an armed coming from outside – Boko Haram. Diffa and Nigeriens witnessed the biggest attack in their history on February 2015 when Boko Haram militants entered the town with heavy weapons just after the suicide bomb attacks in 6 different point of the city. After few days of clashes they pushed out the central town but security ambitions never left again. Niger government still imposing curfew in the town after 20:00.

The emergency state established and followed by restrictive measures. Economic activities such agriculture, fishing, transport, trading are stopped. On June 3rd 2016 the attack on Bosso and Toumour raised a humanitarian emergency situation. Since that attack, joint military operations continuous in the region beside of the hard living conditions which is at most emerging levels today. On December 2017, I visited refugee camps in different locations, hospitals, schools and interviewed many people, NGO’s, security members.