1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE OPERATION
The conflict in Mali which erupted in January 2012 led to a massive exodus of thousands of people to neighboring countries including Niger, which counts 50,0001 Malian refugees. Among these refugees the Tuareg / Tamachek ethnic group is the largest in comparison to others (Arabic, Bambara, Bobo, Dogon, Hausa, Malinke, Peul, Sarakole / Soninke / marka, Sonrai). In accordance with its mandate, the Office of the United Nations for Refugees (UNHCR) has implemented protection and assistance measures to these refugees who have the distinction of being mobile and having agro-pastoral activities.
In order to face up with this exodus, several refugee camps (Abala Mangaize, Tabareybarey) were created in addition to two others which are spontaneous camps: Agando and Chinouarene. For safety reasons, in particular, given their proximity to the Malian border where fighting was still raging between rebel groups and Malian forces and French army, the UNHCR decided to transfer the refugees from these two camps to the hosting area of Intikane (ZAI). The hosting area is located in the Tahoua region and covers an area of approximately 276 ha with a density of 25 persons / ha2. Intikane has the distinction of not being a camp, but a Hosting Area, which is an experimental concept implemented by UNHCR in Niger, in order to adapt to the sociocultural and economic specificities of nomadic refugees. In Intikane unlike in a camp, people live dispersed and have the choice to move wherever they want within the perimeters covered by the area.
Approximately 6944 3 nomadic people live in this area who are 994% Tuareg ethnic group and whose main economic activity is pastoral livestock breeding (mainly cows, sheep, goats, horses, camels, sheep and donkeys) which live in the ends of the area.
In all its missions, the UNHCR implements standards of humanitarian assistance in various areas of intervention (water and sanitation, health, nutrition, shelter / NFI, education) to protect and assist people concerned by its mandate. In the case of ZAI, it became evident that due to the nomadic and agro-pastoral specificity of the Tuareg people, the implementation of Sphere standards poses challenges which leads to this interrogation: Are the Sphere standards applicable in the Hosting area of Intikane? And if so, what provisions can further improve and assess the progress of assistance provided in the best compliance to nomadic lifestyle?
At first, this report will analyze the characteristics of Malian Tuaregs to better understand the culture of the population in Intikane. Then, the methodology used in the research will be presented. Finally, follows up will be made on the application of Sphere standards in ZAI.
