The United Nations says it is trying to speak to the leaders of the coup in Niger, after they said UN agencies could no longer work in war zones in the country.
On Thursday, Niger’s interior ministry announced it was stopping UN agencies and other international organisations from working in what it called military operation zones because of the current security situation.
It did not specify which regions were affected.
The country has for years experienced insurgencies from Islamist militants, but security has deteriorated further since the coup that toppled President Mohammed Bazoum’s government last month.
Shortly after taking over, military leaders said they had done so in order to better tackle the insurgencies.
The coup leader’s suspension of the UN Humanitarian Air Service comes as less than half of Niger’s health facilities are operational.
On Wednesday, the UN said the move has impeded the delivery of essential medicines and nutritional supplies. Other UN agencies have also been affected.
The global body is particularly worried about the fate of more than 600,000 refugees and more than 20,000 internally displaced people living in dangerous conditions in the West African nation.