The European Union has announced it is flying “essential medicines” to Niger as the country struggles with sanctions imposed following a July coup.
Niger has been subject to heavy economic sanctions by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since the military overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.
The EU, which itself has suspended financial aid to Niger, said it had “launched a new Humanitarian Air Bridge operation” transporting “essential medicines and medical supplies to the city of Niamey”.
A first flight had already landed by Wednesday.
Humanitarian groups operating in Niger have experienced “disruptions in the supply chain of key items” while the local population has been faced with “drastic price increases”, the EU added.
The EU has organised four flights carrying a total of 58 tonnes in “critical health supplies”.
“They will be used to scale up the humanitarian response in the country, where stocks of life saving items are rapidly depleting and access is severely limited.”
As well as sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, the coup was also condemned by several Western countries, many of which cut their development aid to Niger.
The military regime announced in October a reduction of 40 percent in Niger’s 2023 budget due to sanctions, highlighting the country’s dependance on foreign countries.
Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine said he was organising an austerity program that will prioritise spending on security and officials’ salaries.
The regime has created a solidarity fund which will be fuelled by levies on transport, communications, oil taxes and donations.
