Niger

The Republic of Niger is located south-east of Algeria and shares borders with Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria and Chad. It covers an area of 1,267,000 square kilometers, about twice the size of France, and has a population of 13,272,679 (2008). The climate is dry and arid, and it is one of the hottest countries on earth.

Niger is divided into seven regions and one urban commune (the Niamey Urban Commune). Each region is further divided into departments which total 35 for the entire Nigerien territory. The SEMAFO mining site, known as Samira Hill, is found in the department of Téra in the Tillabéri region. 

The Tillabéri region

The Tillabéri region is divided into six departments: Tillabéri, Fillingé, Kollo, Ouallam, Say and Téra. Its administrative center is the city of Tillabéri. It has a population of 2,228,574 inhabitants, covers an area of 97,251 square kilometers with 2,685 villages within its borders.

The Tillabéri region suffers from the numerous economic difficulties that exist in the entire country, which include financing and resource mobilization by the local administration. About 90% of the population works in the area of agriculture. This region struggles to satisfy its grain needs despite the fact that it contains a third of the country's natural resources.

The region's population is made up of members of the Djermas-Sonraï, Fula, Tuareg, Gourmantché, Arab and Haoussa ethnic groups. The population is very young and particularly poor as 68.9% of inhabitants live below the poverty line. The health care workforce is insufficient, with the exception of midwives. When it comes to water and sanitation, the coverage is low and below that of the rest of the country.

Here are a few statistics for the Tillabéri region (2005):

• Population: 2,228,574
• Population density: 23 inh./km2
• Rural population: 96.4%
• Median age: 14
• Schooling rate: 41.5%
• IHC (integrated health center) coverage: 44.58% of the territory
• 1 doctor per 150,391 inhabitants (WHO norm: 1/10,000);
• 1 nurse per 9,273 inhabitants (WHO norm: 1/5,000);
• 1 midwife per 6,120 women of procreation age (WHO norm: 1/5,000)

Source: Stratégie de Développement Accéleré et de Réduction de la Pauvreté

The Niamey Urban Commune (NUC)

The Urban Commune's population is very young with over 67% of people being under the age of 25. The economic and social situation and schooling rates in this region are the best in the country. Over 80% of the population has access to clean drinking water although only 20% of people are connected to the SNE (Société d'exploitation des eaux du Niger) distribution network. Others supply themselves at hydrants, well drillings and traditional wells. The sanitary coverage in the Urban Commune is relatively good compared to the rest of the country, due to its small size and the presence of hospitals and private health infrastructures. The number of health workers per inhabitant is higher, as they are concentrated in the capital, which accounts for the lack of personnel in the decentralized structures.