Burkina Faso faces escalating displacement crisis due to violence
Burkina Faso faces escalating displacement crisis due to violence
The relentless violence perpetrated by jihadist groups in Burkina Faso has led to the internal displacement of nearly 230,000 individuals since the beginning of the year. Humanitarian agencies have issued urgent warnings, emphasizing that the deteriorating security situation continues to profoundly impact children and their families across this Central Sahel nation.
The Rapid Response Operational Coordination Group (GCORR) reports that nearly 37,000 households have been displaced following 48 distinct alerts for displacement. This figure represents a staggering 92% increase compared to the same period in 2024. In May alone, GCORR documented approximately 41,000 individuals affected by 12 displacement alerts across the country.
The Boucle du Mouhoun region has borne the brunt of this crisis, accounting for over 106,000 displaced persons, including more than 65,000 children, across 13 localities such as Dédougou, Di, and Tougan. This region alone represents 45% of the total internally displaced population.
Significant humanitarian needs emerge
The overall security landscape in Burkina Faso remains volatile, characterized by persistent attacks in the Sahel, Nord, Centre-Nord, Est, Centre-Est, and Boucle du Mouhoun regions. These assaults have targeted national defense and security forces, Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), and local communities.
According to UNICEF, these escalating acts of violence have generated “considerable” humanitarian needs across all sectors. The most pressing requirements include emergency shelters, food security, access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) services, protection for vulnerable populations, and educational continuity.
In response to this deepening crisis, various organizations have stepped up to support those on the ground. However, despite ongoing intervention efforts, substantial unmet needs persist, underscoring the severity of the situation.
From a nutritional standpoint, over 10,000 children nationwide were admitted for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in April. More than half of these cases originated from regions severely impacted by jihadist violence, including Boucle du Mouhoun, Nord, Est, Sahel, and Centre-Nord.
Addressing severe acute malnutrition
Between January and April, over 36,000 children received treatment for malnutrition, with more than 20,000 of them residing in insecure zones. By the end of May, a total of 179,000 individuals, representing 28% of the 1.3 million people in need, had been treated for acute malnutrition. Within this group, over 8,000 children were suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
More broadly, the deteriorating security environment significantly impedes humanitarian operations. It creates severe access challenges, heightens operational risks for aid workers, and amplifies the assistance requirements of affected populations.
Following attacks in the Est and Sahel regions, critical local infrastructure, particularly in health, education, water supply, and administration, has been extensively damaged or destroyed.
Djibo: a city under jihadist siege
Among the most severely affected areas is the entire population of Djibo, located in the Soum province of northern Burkina Faso. An estimated 48,000 residents, comprising both displaced persons and host communities, are critically impacted, as the city has been under a jihadist blockade, cutting off all supplies since December 2024.
UNICEF is actively implementing various programs in Djibo through its local partners, focusing on essential services such as water, sanitation, hygiene, education, child protection, health, and nutrition.
Both humanitarian workers and the affected populations face grave dangers, including the risk of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and abductions. “Beyond the difficulties of access, a critical shortage of resources presents another major challenge, impacting the capacity to deliver effective responses in security-affected regions,” UNICEF emphasized.