RT.com
19 Sep 2023, 00:43 GMT+10
Medical supplies bound for the West African country are stranded due to border closures imposed by a regional bloc, a health ministry official has said
Niger is facing a critical shortage of medicines as a result of sanctions imposed by the West African regional authority, ECOWAS, in response to a coup in July, RIA Novosti reported on Monday, citing a Ministry of Health official.
Ibrahim Sule, secretary general of the African country's health ministry, told RIA that Niger is running low on antibiotics, as well as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease treatment drugs.
"Pharmaceutical products destined for Niger are delayed at the port of Cotonou [in Benin] or at the border, and more than 60 blocked containers have been found there... worth about 4 billion CFA francs [$1.6 million]," the outlet quotes Sule as saying.
The military government in Niger has been under Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sanctions since soldiers of the presidential guard deposed President Emmanuel Bazoum on July 26.
The regional bloc restricted financial transactions and closed entry into the uranium-rich nation from its other member states to pressure the coup plotters to restore democratic order.
Last month, thousands of trucks carrying food bound for the West African country were reported to have been stranded for weeks at the Malanville crossing in northern Benin due to border closures.
The United Nations food agency, the World Food Programme (WFP), had previously warned that the blockade was "greatly" affecting the supply of "vital" foods and medical supplies into Niger.
Djaounsede Madjiangar, the West African regional spokesperson for the WFP, claimed that about 6,000 tonnes of goods from the agency, including food for malnourished children, were stuck outside the capital Niamey.
In an interview with RIA published on Monday, the Nigerien health ministry secretary general claimed that ECOWAS sanctions against Niger violated World Trade Organization treaties.
"We condemn the position of ECOWAS, since no political situation has ever led to such harsh sanctions against humanitarian products," Sule said.
He said that since the beginning of the crisis, the military rulers have been studying the possibility of redirecting supply channels and are negotiating with the governments of "friendly" countries such as Burkina Faso, Guinea, Algeria, and Türkiye.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Africa Leader news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Africa Leader.
More InformationMOSCOW, Russia: This week, Russia became the first country to officially recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan since...
CAIRO, Egypt: This week, both Hamas and Israel shared their views ahead of expected peace talks about a new U.S.-backed ceasefire plan....
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has made public a visa decision that would usually be kept private. It did this to send...
MADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
President Donald Trump's plans to build a space-based Golden Dome missile defense shield have drawn immediate criticism from China,...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: With just weeks to spare before a potential government default, U.S. lawmakers passed a sweeping tax and spending...
PARIS, France: Fast-fashion giant Shein has been fined 40 million euros by France's antitrust authority over deceptive discount practices...
PALO ALTO/TEL AVIV: The battle for top AI talent has claimed another high-profile casualty—this time at Safe Superintelligence (SSI),...
FRANKLIN, Tennessee: Hundreds of thousands of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are being recalled across the United States due to a potential...
REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft is the latest tech giant to announce significant job cuts, as the financial strain of building next-generation...
LONDON UK - U.S. stock markets were closed on Friday for Independence Day. Global Forex Markets Wrap Up Friday with Greeback Comeback...