The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that escalating violence by non-state armed groups in Burkina Faso has forced thousands of Burkinabe civilians to flee to neighboring Niger. This influx has worsened the already dire situation in Tillabéry, where there are now at least 153,000 internally displaced Nigeriens and over 36,000 Burkinabe asylum seekers. Recent attacks in late May and early June 2024 caused significant population movements in the region, straining local resources and the resilience of host communities. The UNHCR highlighted that the proliferation of armed groups in the Sahel, starting in northern Mali in 2012, has spread to northern Burkina Faso and western Niger, threatening regional stability. The security situation along the Niger-Burkina Faso border remains volatile, complicating humanitarian access and protection efforts. The UNHCR and local authorities have pre-registered displaced households and provided health services, financial aid, essential supplies, and emergency shelters. However, there is an urgent need for food, nutritional kits, improved water points, lighting, and security measures to address the growing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the influx of displaced persons.
Burkina/Niger: Escalating Violence in Burkina Faso Forces Thousands to Flee to Niger: A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds
fono, burkina faso, Burkina Faso, Sahel
July 25, 2024
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