Niamey, Niger, 20 November 2024 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC), with funding from the European Union (EU), has successfully implemented a comprehensive health, nutrition, and protection programme in the Tillabéri region of Niger. This initiative has improved access to life-saving services for vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities. Over the past year, the project has reached more than 120,000 people, including 70,000 women and 50,000 men, in the Banibangou, Ouallam, and Filingué districts.
Niger faces a complex humanitarian crisis driven by insecurity and displacement, with millions in need of assistance. With critical EU support, the IRC has worked closely with communities, health districts, and local authorities to strengthen healthcare delivery systems. The program provided a combination of supplies and financial aid to health centers and community clinics, boosting their ability to deliver quality care. These efforts ensured that the most vulnerable people could receive treatment free of charge, offering a lifeline to those who need it most.
Melody Munz, Country Director of IRC Niger, said:
“In a region affected by insecurity and displacement, this integrated approach has been pivotal in ensuring that healthcare, nutrition, and protection services are accessible in underserved areas, directly addressing the needs of IDPs and host communities. Beyond addressing immediate needs, our teams are strengthening the resilience of local health systems to ensure long-term impact. However, the challenges remain vast, with ongoing insecurity, displacement, and the effects of climate shocks requiring sustained international support to meet the growing needs.”
“Our efforts in close collaboration with the EU Humanitarian Aid went beyond healthcare to address a critical protection need: ensuring the safety and dignity of women and girls in vulnerable situations. Our teams focused on protecting survivors of gender-based violence by offering emotional and psychological support, training health workers to handle these sensitive cases with care, and working with local organizations to raise awareness in the community. Recognizing that everyone has a role to play, the IRC staff also engaged men in preventing violence and collaborated with traditional leaders to change harmful norms.
For women and girls, safety often comes down to small, practical things that many take for granted. That’s why the IRC provided “dignity kits” containing essentials like sandals, fabric, veils, soap, underwear, and reusable sanitary pads, along with flashlights to help them feel safer after dark. Packaged in biodegradable bags, these kits aimed to restore a sense of normalcy, autonomy, and dignity, helping survivors move forward in their recovery. Empowerment programs, like the “Girl Shine” initiative, further strengthened young women and girls’ confidence and resilience, giving them a safe space to play, learn and support each other in the face of unimaginable challenges.”
The International Rescue Committee partners with the European Union to provide life-saving support to people caught in conflict and disasters around the world. Our work funded by the EU enables people to survive, recover and rebuild their lives.