Humanitarian agencies have issued a stark warning: nearly 230,000 individuals have been displaced in Burkina Faso since the year began, a direct consequence of escalating jihadist group violence. This volatile security situation in the central Sahel region continues to severely impact children and their families.
The Rapid Response Operational Coordination Group (GCORR) reports that approximately 37,000 households have been uprooted due to 48 distinct displacement alerts. This figure marks a significant 92% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year, 2024.
Focusing solely on May, GCORR documented nearly 41,000 people impacted by 12 displacement alerts across various regions of the country.
The Boucle du Mouhoun region bears the brunt of this crisis, accounting for 45% of all internally displaced persons. Over 106,000 people, including more than 65,000 children, have been displaced across 13 localities within this region, notably Dédougou, Di, and Tougan.
Significant humanitarian needs emerge
The overarching security landscape in Burkina Faso is characterized by relentless attacks across the Sahel, Nord, Centre-Nord, Est, Centre-Est, and Boucle du Mouhoun regions. These aggressions have targeted not only the national Defense and Security Forces and Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) but also local communities.
UNICEF highlights that this widespread violence has spawned “considerable” humanitarian needs spanning all sectors. The most immediate priorities include adequate shelter, food security, access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), protection services, and educational provisions.
In an effort to mitigate this crisis, numerous organizations have mobilized to provide support to those already on the ground. However, despite ongoing response efforts, substantial needs persist across the affected areas.
Regarding nutritional health, over 10,000 children nationwide received treatment for severe acute malnutrition in April alone. More than half of these cases originated from regions severely impacted by jihadist violence, including Boucle du Mouhoun, Nord, Est, Sahel, and Centre-Nord.
Urgent challenges of severe acute malnutrition
Between January and April, a total of over 36,000 individuals were admitted for treatment, with more than 20,000 of these cases stemming from insecure zones.
By the close of May, acute malnutrition treatment had reached 179,000 people, representing 28% of the 1.3 million individuals requiring assistance. Among those treated, over 25,000 were children, with more than 8,000 specifically battling severe acute malnutrition.
The broader deterioration of the security environment significantly hampers humanitarian operations. This exacerbates challenges related to access, elevates operational risks, and intensifies the assistance requirements for affected populations.
Following attacks in the Est and Sahel regions, vital local infrastructure—particularly in health, education, water systems, and administration—has been destroyed.
Djibo: a town under jihadist blockade
Among the severely impacted areas is Djibo, a town in the Soum province of northern Burkina Faso. Its entire population of approximately 48,000 individuals, encompassing both displaced persons and host communities, is gravely affected, as the town has been under a supply blockade since December 2024.
Through its local partners, UNICEF is actively implementing various programs in Djibo, focusing on critical areas such as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), education, child protection, health, and nutrition.
Humanitarian workers, alongside the affected populations, face grave risks, including improvised explosive devices and abductions. UNICEF emphasizes that beyond the significant access challenges, a severe shortage of resources presents another major hurdle, directly impeding response capabilities in the insecurity-stricken regions.