It appears my plan to head up to a charity which runs a school for the children of the Touareg nomads may be off. The idea was that I would this charity, help out the visiting doctor, and do a health survey of the local population. Interesting, proper full-on rural medicine, and really useful to do.
The downside? It's right up on the border with Algeria/Mali, and it has been on the FCO list advising against "all but essential travel" for ages. Happily, the info on the relevant bit of Niger changed a couple of days ago, to:
We advise against all travel to the Aïr Massif region and on the road linking Assamaka, Arlit and Agadez. Armed groups are operating in the North and are known to be using land mines. Extreme caution should be exercised when travelling to the following areas: the Ténéré and Kaouar regions; the Azawagh area, particularly the area between the Malian and Algerian borders and the towns of Tahoua and Ingall; the east of the Aïr Massif.
Advice I can take with a pinch of salt; landmines less so. Oh well.
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4 comments:
Hello i am from Niger but i reside in the USA
my website is http://www.niger1.com/niger.html
my email is niger1.com@gmail.com
may be you should email so we can further about your 2 months in Niger
You know i know a lot of people that started a fundraising for Niger health tell me more about you what state are you in ?
I am in New York by the way
Are you in Niger now ?
Why can you take this advice with a pinch of salt?
Can I suggest you don't let Mum see this, as you being cool about landlines and armed gangs is unlikely to reassure her on the subject of your safety.
Because advice is just that - advice. I can choose to take it or not.
The landmines, as I say above, are another matter.
I know what advice is, but you said you can take it with a pinch of salt, which implies you have some reason to mistrust it.
Personally I'd say the armed gangs are more worrying than landmines as armed gangs can be more selective.
Anyway send me a postcard!
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