Nearly 7,000 people have fled the region in western Niger where jihadist fighters killed 89 soldiers in a devastating attack earlier this month, the UN refugee agency said.
But insecurity in the region is making it difficult for the UNHCR to bring them the help they need, the statement added.
Following the attack at the town of Chinegodar, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Malian border, "an estimated 7,000 civilians including 1,000 refugees have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety," the statement said.
"We are receiving accounts of people being given an ultimatum by armed groups to leave the area, of civilians being targeted, kidnapped or killed, of properties being looted."
"In Sahel, the protection of those forced to flee must be at the core of the response to this displacement crisis."
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