The Sahel region, already plagued by political instability, widespread violence, food shortages and disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, is now facing an increase in refugees from Burkina Faso, fleeing ferocious attacks by armed groups, particularly in the region. on the border with the Ivory Coast. About 7,000 Burkinabés have arrived in the northwest of the Ivory Coast since May last year. The influx has seen an acceleration in the past six weeks – though not linked to the recent military coup in Burkina Faso – with an average of 100 people recently crossing the border each day, local authorities reported. UNHCR has registered and assisted over 4,000 of them. In Burkina Faso we are also witnessing a crisis of internally displaced persons. Last year their number grew by 50% to over 1.5 million people, and today Burkina Faso is one of the African countries with the highest percentage of displaced people.
The crisis in this region shows no sign of resolving and the already limited international attention is shifting elsewhere. Large parts of the region remain or have become inaccessible to aid agencies seeking to support the 2.5 million people forced to flee their homes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. As a result, many Sahelians are moving south, to coastal countries or to North Africa, where many end up in dangerous limbo. The Sahel is also facing an unprecedented rural exodus, with an increasing number of displaced people moving to urban areas due to shrinking areas under government control, reduced access to land and agricultural production, and multiple environmental challenges. In urban centers, displaced populations are exposed to new protection risks. Threats to women and young people are particularly serious, including sexual and labor exploitation, gender-based violence, forced recruitment and trafficking. Interventions in support of women and young people are vital to alleviate suffering and prevent abuse, along with investments in a more positive future for Sahelian communities. The Sahel is also at the forefront of the climate crisis, with temperatures rising 1.5 times the global average. This is exacerbating states’ underlying vulnerabilities in handling rapidly growing populations, environmental devastation, natural disasters, a reversal of development progress, and interference from non-governmental actors. The climate emergency is also aggravating conflicts over scarce resources.
In 2021, some 19,200 Burkinabé fled to neighboring Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger and Benin – a 50% increase over the previous year. More than 34,000 Burkinabés are now in exile in the region. The situation of Burkinabé refugees is becoming increasingly precarious as more and more people arrive in Côte d’Ivoire without personal belongings or food. They told UNHCR staff that civilians were killed and their homes burned by extremists. They are hosted by Ivorian villagers in crowded conditions. UNHCR staff reported that many Ivorian families are hosting up to 30 Burkinabé refugees in small homes. Overcrowding is having a negative impact on health conditions, and there are numerous cases of malaria, respiratory infections and malnutrition, increasing the pressure on local health facilities. Unihcr will soon launch an appeal for the Sahel region. With a total budget of $ 307 million, UNHCR’s operations in the central Sahel are only 7% funded.