The European Union has disclosed its plans to airlift “essential medicines” to Niger in response to the sanctions imposed on the country following a coup in July.
Niger has faced substantial economic sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the military overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum.
The European Union, having suspended its financial aid to Niger, has announced the initiation of a new Humanitarian Air Bridge operation for transporting “essential medicines and medical supplies to the city of Niamey.”
A first flight had already landed by Wednesday.
The European Union stated that humanitarian organizations working in Niger have encountered “disruptions in the supply chain of key items” leading to “significant price hikes” for the local population.
The European Union has coordinated four flights transporting a combined 58 tonnes of “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.”
In addition to the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, the coup received condemnation from various Western nations, a number of which reduced or halted their development aid to Niger.
In October, the military regime declared a 40 percent reduction in Niger’s 2023 budget, citing sanctions and underscoring the country’s reliance on foreign nations.
Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine disclosed his plans to institute an austerity program that will place a primary focus on allocating funds towards security and the salaries of officials.
The regime has established a solidarity fund that will be funded through levies on transportation, communications, oil taxes, and donations.
