Unhcr urges global action for Sahel’s growing displacement crisis

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued an urgent appeal for international support for its operations across the Sahel region. This comes as nearly 4 million individuals are currently displaced in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and neighboring countries—a figure approximately two-thirds higher than five years ago—driven by persistent insecurity, restricted access to vital services, and the profound effects of climate change.

“While the majority of those uprooted within the region remain in their home countries, cross-border movements are increasingly common, placing considerable strain on host communities and existing national infrastructure,” stated Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, Director of UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, during a press briefing. These ongoing population movements coincide with significant challenges in both humanitarian access and funding. The Sahel has witnessed a sharp increase in humanitarian needs, yet available resources have substantially declined since 2022.

severe funding shortfalls

The UNHCR is advocating for a renewed and strengthened global commitment to tackle the severe crisis unfolding in the central Sahel. Countries in the region cannot manage these immense challenges in isolation. This year, the agency has secured less than a third of its required $409 million funding appeal. Crucial activities, including registration, documentation, education, health services, and shelter provision, have been severely impacted. “Over 212,000 refugees and asylum-seekers across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger remain unregistered, which severely limits their access to essential services and heightens their vulnerability to arbitrary detention and harassment,” Mr. Gnon-Konde further elaborated.

These budgetary constraints are occurring amidst relentless violence perpetrated by jihadist groups. Widespread insecurity throughout the region exposes populations to ongoing violence, forced recruitment, restrictions on movement, and arbitrary detention. Women and children constitute a staggering 80% of the forcibly displaced populations in this area, with gender-based violence persisting as a grave and pervasive issue. According to the inter-agency protection monitoring system for West and Central Africa, the number of individuals affected by such incidents has dramatically increased this year.

thousands of schools forced to close

Amidst this climate of instability, over 900 health facilities have also been compelled to cease operations, thereby denying millions of people access to critical medical care. Region-wide, more than 14,800 schools had shut down by mid-2025, leaving 3 million children without access to education and safe learning environments. This dire situation further exposes “forcibly displaced youth to the risks of forced recruitment and human trafficking.” Furthermore, food insecurity has emerged as an escalating driver of displacement; the proportion of displaced individuals and host community members citing it as a reason for their movement has doubled in recent years. The UNHCR also highlights that climate-related shocks exacerbate existing risks, intensifying competition for scarce natural resources like land and water, and creating additional barriers to peaceful coexistence and social cohesion within host communities.