The Central Sahel region continues to grapple with a severe humanitarian crisis. Across Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, an estimated 7.5 million children urgently require aid, despite some advancements observed in the areas of healthcare, education, and civil registration.
UNICEF urges heightened international support
Following a two-week mission to the region, Ted Chaiban, UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director, raised concerns about a crisis that remains largely under-recognized on the global stage.
He depicted an area marked by the remarkable resilience of its communities, yet simultaneously enduring the prolonged impacts of insecurity, climate disruptions, and significant socio-economic challenges.
Forced displacement, violence, and school closures
According to data compiled by UNICEF, more than 3.6 million people have been forced from their homes due to escalating violence. The United Nations has also recorded over 1,500 severe violations against children, encompassing murders, abductions, and recruitment by armed factions.
The education sector is also profoundly affected. By 2025, over 8,400 schools had become non-operational, thereby denying countless children access to learning and increasing their vulnerability to illness, psychological trauma, and destitution.