I thought I would update you on what is happening in Niger, since I
have been in touch with Souleymane a lot in the last few weeks. There
has at last been a report on the BBC which is worth reading since we
actually passed through Iferouane on our journey last year.
Souleymane told me that he is currently using his resources in Agadez
to help supply food and medicines for the French Red Cross which is
about the only NGO allowed to work in northern Niger right now. It
seems there is difficulty sending any money out since Western Union
are not sure if it will be allowed to arrive, and the majority of
their shops have been shut down.
Jiji who was one of our drivers is still in Agadez and working with
Souleymane but three of our
team from last year were killed. Dr Ahmed
Dangana, who was the doctor I talked to on our last day in Niger and
with whom I subsequently arranged the delivery of drugs to
Bilma on
three seperate occasions, has gone into the desert to help provide
medical care to the fighting men. The Touareg people have been routed
into many small disparate groups by the Government forces and there
is little to no contact with them at all.
Needless to say tourism is zero and Souleymane told me that it is
dangerous on the streets of Agadez, and he risks arrest if he tries
to leave the area. The Govt have targetted the smaller towns where
the camels and families are kept, hence this BBC report.
It seems there is nothing we can do as a charity, although I am still
looking for ways. The Govt is clamping down on all communications and
NGO involvement. I just thought you would want to know all of this
since I am staggered by the lack of news in the press.
Here is the text of the