Justification for Emergency

JUSTIFICATION FOR EMERGENCY REVIEW

Crisis Assistance Request Form - Niger, OMB Number 1405-XXXX.

On July 26, 2023, the Presidential Guard detained President Bazoum in Niamey, Niger, and subsequently created the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland ( CNSP). Among other things, the CNSP ordered the borders and airports closed until August 5, and imposed a curfew. U.S. Embassy Niamey issued a security alert advising U.S. citizens to shelter in place.

On July 27, demonstrations and unrest began in Niamey. On July 28, the U.S. embassy issued an alert advising U.S. citizens of the unrest and encouraging them to continue sheltering in place.

On August 1, France and Italy announced plans to evacuate their citizens from Niger. As a result, the volume of inquiries for departure assistance for U.S. citizens has increased exponentially and is more than the consular section at the U.S. Embassy can manage without assistance.

With respect to U.S. citizens in Niger, the Department’s primary role is to keep the U.S. citizen community informed of safety and security developments. In order to more effectively assist U.S. citizens directly impacted by the attempted takeover in Niger, the Department intends to make available an online assistance request form that will be located at https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake.

The Department will use this online form to acquire the most current and accurate data possible to inform our consular assistance efforts. It will allow us to build a true and timely picture of how many U.S. citizens plan to remain in Niger and any who may need reimbursable loan assistance to depart affected areas and/or return to the United States. The online form helps avoid unstructured requests for assistance, such as those that arrive via e-mail messages or via social media. These ad hoc efforts may not include important information, such as family size and the requestor’s biodata, and which often require entry into other systems to facilitate responses. The proposed online assistance request form is integrated with other elements of the Department’s evolving information technology platform used in crisis-management situations, enhancing the efficient handling of individual cases.

The Department has therefore determined that:

1. This collection is necessary without allowing for the time normally associated with a routine submission for review under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act. The information collection allows the Department to build a more accurate picture of how many U.S. citizens plan to remain in Niger and support options available.

2. This collection is essential to the mission of the Department of State, which has no higher priority than the safety and welfare of U.S. citizens overseas. The purpose of the collection is to enable the Department to better communicate with U.S. citizens and LPRs who are in need of assistance in departing Niger.

3. The use of normal clearance procedures would prevent the Department from obtaining this information on a timely basis, amid threats of additional violence that are unpredictable and may further deteriorate with little notice.

Due to the ongoing crisis, the Department of State requests OMB’s formal emergency review and approval of this information collection.

Angela Kerwin,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Overseas Citizens Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs

August 1, 2023

Department of State.

Attachments:

Tab 1 – Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act Submission

Tab 2 – Legal Authorities

Tab 3 – Niger Crisis Form Screenshots

Approved: CA/OCS:AKerwin, Acting []

Drafted: CA/OCS/ACS: Mark Raugust Teams 771-205-3287 Cell: 206-612-5613

Cleared:

CA/OCS: KFurnish, Acting (info by request)

CA/OCS/ACS/AF: VLehner (ok)

IRM: SVerrecchia (info)

A/GIS/PRV: AReyes-Ovalles (ok)

L/CA:SFreuden, JGannon (ok)

L/AN: JLOsborn (ok)