Burkina Faso: world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis

The number of people displaced in Burkina Faso increased tenfold last year to over 700,000 people. The figure is predicted to skyrocket to 900,000 by April as violence continues to force families from their homes.

The country is on the brink of a hunger crisis. A staggering one in ten people in Burkina Faso will need food assistance by June. The violence is also storing up problems for future generations, as some armed groups deliberately target schools and teachers, leaving 330,000 children without access to education.

While aid agencies have rapidly scaled up to respond to humanitarian needs across the country, our work is severely hampered by the lack of funding from donor governments. Last year, less than half of the money required to meet growing humanitarian needs was received.

The Norwegian Refugee Council is sounding the alarm and calling for States supporting the military intervention to increase efforts to respond to humanitarian needs with equal emphasis.

In addition, military operations should be carried out with protection as a priority, and ensure it does not put the population at greater risk by triggering new displacements and increasing their vulnerability. Finally, it is urgent to address the root causes of the conflict and for dialogue to be re-established between communities and authorities.