The United Nations has issued a warning regarding a growing displacement crisis in the central Sahel, where approximately four million individuals have been forced to escape their homes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. This figure has more than doubled within the last six years, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).
Among the displaced, there are about 818,000 refugees and asylum seekers. The UNHCR attributed the worsening situation to ongoing violence against civilians, climate-related issues, and a stark lack of humanitarian funding.
“These pressures are pushing more families to flee, undermining livelihoods and restricting opportunities for displaced individuals to rebuild their lives,” stated Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, the regional director for West and Central Africa at the UNHCR. He emphasized that the crisis is intensifying amidst diminishing international attention.
In Mali, a significant number of refugees come from neighboring Burkina Faso, with certain areas like Koro in the central Bandiagara region hosting around 86,000 refugees, including over 14,000 children, by July. This situation has placed additional strain on local resources, particularly land, water, and healthcare services.
The UNHCR also noted that the displacement crisis is extending beyond the central Sahel, affecting countries in coastal West Africa such as Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo. The agency is currently grappling with a critical funding deficit, having secured only 27 percent of the resources required for its operations in the Sahel region.
