1. Burkina Faso
  2. 2020

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.
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3. Burkina Faso
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3. Burkina Faso

Newly displaced people waiting on the side of the road after they fled attacks in Barsalogho.

A severe lack of funding is hampering humanitarians from saving lives.

The military response alone cannot respond to the needs of the displaced who are in precarious situations due to insecurity. Displaced people need urgent assistance. They need shelters, food, water, education, but as long as the response will be mainly security-oriented, the needs will not be met.

The funding of the humanitarian response is falling short. Aid organisations have scaled up their capacity in the country and stand ready to respond to the skyrocketing needs but their work is being severely hampered by the lack of commitment from donor governments. In 2019, not even half of the funds for the humanitarian response were allocated.

Date: 21 January 2020
Location: Kaya - Center North Burkina Faso
Photo: Tom Peyre-Costa/NRC

  • 3. Burkina Faso
  • A newly displaced family who fled from Barsalogho following an armed attack
  • Fatoumata and her displaced family in Kaya after they fled from several attacks
  • 3. Burkina Faso
  • A newly displaced boy and his family, waiting on the side of the road with their belongings
  • A family fleeing from Barsalogho after a recent attack in the area
  • A man and an aid worker walking in Barsalogho displacement camp
  • Sarah (in white) and a group of displaced women pumping water in Barsalogho camp
  • 3. Burkina Faso
  • Mariam and her relatives, sitting in their tent in Barsalogho displacement camp
  • Jan Egeland discussing with displaced people in Barsalogho camp - Burkina Faso
  • Jan Egeland discussing with displaced women and children at a water distribution station
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