According to reports, millions of people are displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance in a tripart border region of west Africa comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria. Seemingly only u.n. troops and associated groups are allowed in a county sized area bordering Burkina Faso. According to various reports, oil giants royal dutch shell have been active in Niger/Nigeria for half a Century or more. Recent reports in the border region are of protests and violence; also water contamination. Some believe probably connected to non compliance to u.n. criteria regarding the exploitation of oil.