By Moctar Dan Yaye, Niamey

This year, Thursday, 20th of June, was celebrated around the world as International Refugee Day. But in Niger the celebration of this day was interrupted by demonstrations.

From Australasia to the Americas, UNHCR celebrated the courage and determination of children, women and men driven from their homes by dance performances and food festivals. In Niger, it is the evacuees from Libya as part of the ETM project. Among them are Eritreans, Ethiopians, Somalis and Sudanese in their new Camp in Hamdallaye, a commune 45 km from the capital.

At the same time that the authorities and heads of institutions came to celebrate this day, the refugees brazenly took the opportunity to denounce their living conditions in this camp. They set up a sit-in to demand the improvement of their living conditions. Strong messages such as "WE ARE ALL HUMAN", "FAIRNESS-JUSTICE" etc. can be seen on their signs.

At one point, the demonstrators prevented the car of the General Secretary of the Ministry from leaving the premises. They decry the lack of reliable infrastructure to shelter them in an area of high heat and wind and vulnerable also with the rains. Lack of water, food and medicines, and also malaria which is very prevalent.

In response to this situation, the UNHCR representative made a strong speech in which she promised the demonstrators that she would meet the next day with a delegation.

Those present at the 'protest ceremony' appreciated her reaction, as things could go wrong if law enforcement was seized to intervene.