As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gears up for another extraordinary summit over the political situation in the Republic of Niger, there are still concerns over the escalating humanitarian situation in the country.

Development Diaries reports that the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Bola Tinubu, said the summit will hold on 10 August in Abuja

This comes as the one-week ultimatum handed the Nigerien coup plotters expired.

It is understood that Tinubu had on Sunday met with governors of five Nigerian states sharing boundary with Niger to consider options in a bid to restore democratic governance in the troubled country.

Development Diaries had in an earlier report called on ECOWAS to carefully address the unfolding crisis to prevent escalation.

United Nations figures show that more than 370,000 men, women and children are displaced within Niger. Also, Niger hosts more than 250,000 refugees, mainly from Nigeria, Mali and Burkina Faso.

According to the UN, there are currently 4.3 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in the country.

No doubt, the development and daily lives of Niger’s civilian population are being severely hampered by the government’s repeated, unconstitutional changes.

It is important that ECOWAS treads carefully in making decisions concerning the situation in Niger to avoid aggravating an already complex humanitarian situation.

Development Diaries reiterates its call on ECOWAS to avoid military intervention in Niger considering the already volatile situation in the Sahel region.

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