Burkina Faso: thousands displaced by escalating violence

Humanitarian organizations are sounding the alarm as nearly 230,000 individuals have been displaced in Burkina Faso since the start of the year, a direct consequence of escalating violence by jihadist groups. This worsening security situation in the central Sahel region profoundly impacts children and their families.

The Rapid Response Operational Coordination Group (GCORR) reports that nearly 37,000 households have been forced to relocate following 48 alerts of displacement. This marks a substantial 92% surge compared to the same timeframe in the previous year. Specifically for May, GCORR documented approximately 41,000 individuals impacted by 12 distinct displacement alerts across the country.

The Boucle du Mouhoun region has been disproportionately affected, accounting for 45% of all internally displaced persons. Over 106,000 individuals, including more than 65,000 children, have sought refuge in 13 localities within this region, such as Dédougou, Di, and Tougan.

Critical humanitarian needs mount

Burkina Faso’s security landscape remains volatile, characterized by persistent attacks in the Sahel, Nord, Centre-Nord, Est, Centre-Est, and Boucle du Mouhoun regions. These aggressions have targeted national defense and security forces, Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), and local populations.

According to UNICEF, these widespread acts of violence have generated “considerable” humanitarian requirements across all sectors. The most pressing needs encompass emergency shelter, food security, access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, as well as protection and educational support.

In response to this escalating crisis, numerous organizations have stepped in to provide assistance on the ground. However, despite these ongoing efforts, significant gaps in aid provision continue to exist.

Regarding nutrition, over 10,000 children nationwide received treatment for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in April. More than half of these critical cases originated from regions heavily afflicted by jihadist violence, specifically Boucle du Mouhoun, Nord, Est, Sahel, and Centre-Nord.

Addressing severe acute malnutrition

From January to April, more than 36,000 individuals were admitted for malnutrition treatment, with over 20,000 of these cases occurring in insecure zones. By the end of May, a total of 179,000 people—representing 28% of the 1.3 million in need—had received treatment for acute malnutrition. Within this group, over 25,000 were children, and more than 8,000 of them were battling severe acute malnutrition.

More broadly, the deteriorating security situation significantly impedes humanitarian operations, obstructing access, increasing operational hazards, and intensifying the assistance demands of affected communities. Following recent attacks in the Est and Sahel regions, essential local infrastructures, particularly in the health, education, water, and administrative sectors, have been destroyed.

Djibo: a city under jihadist blockade

Among the most severely impacted areas is Djibo, situated in the Soum province of northern Burkina Faso. Its entire population, estimated at approximately 48,000 individuals (including both displaced persons and host communities), has been cut off from supplies since December 2024 due to a jihadist blockade.

UNICEF, through its local partners, is actively implementing various programs in Djibo, focusing on critical sectors such as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), education, child protection, health, and nutrition.

Humanitarian personnel, much like the affected populace, face “the risk of improvised explosive devices and abductions.” UNICEF underscored that “beyond access difficulties, a scarcity of resources presents another major challenge, impacting response capabilities in regions grappling with insecurity.”