Provide details of your efforts to locally integrate refugees in Agadez- Yousef Ismail charges UNHCR

Yousef Ismail,  a media personality and a member of Refugees in Niger,  has raised fresh concerns over the treatment and living conditions of refugees at the Agadez Humanitarian Centre in Niger, questioning the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) over its handling of the protracted crisis.

In a series of posts on X via his handle, @yousef_ism58349, Ismail challenged United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide details of its efforts to locally integrate refugees in Agadez.

Responding to UNHCR Niger’s position that local integration remains the “most immediate and realistic solution” for refugees, Ismail asked how many refugees from Agadez had successfully been integrated into local communities since 2018.

He also questioned the status of the Agadez Humanitarian Centre, which he said was established in 2017 with funding from the European Union, Italy and other partners and jointly managed by UNHCR Niger and the Nigerien government.

According to him, the centre has become a “de facto detention facility”, prompting him to ask whether the United Kingdom government considers UNHCR to be fulfilling its international protection mandate.

“If yes, please explain why. If no, what has the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office done about it?” he asked.

Ismail also appealed to former Iraqi President and former United Nations official Barham Salih, asking whether he had information about refugee camps in Niger and the conditions under which refugees were living.

He specifically raised concerns over the distribution of humanitarian food assistance following cuts attributed to funding shortages.

“Are you aware that after the food aid was cut due to budget shortages, there was no fairness in its distribution?” he asked.

The activist further accused UNHCR Niger of failing to adequately address what he described as discrimination among refugees in the country, particularly those housed at the Agadez centre.

He argued that refugees in Agadez were experiencing treatment different from that of refugees elsewhere in Niger and called for the situation to be addressed.

Ismail said the plight of the refugees should not be treated merely as a news story, describing their struggle as a call for communication, solidarity and concrete action.

“Their struggle is not just news,” he said, urging greater solidarity with the refugees as they seek protection and a better future.

He said the refugees had now spent 663 days engaged in a peaceful protest at the Agadez Humanitarian Centre, demanding their rights, protection and what they described as a dignified and safe life.

The posts come amid sustained calls from refugees and advocacy groups for greater attention to conditions at the Agadez facility and for durable solutions to the situation of refugees who have remained there for extended periods.