Escalating jihadist violence in Burkina Faso has forced nearly 230,000 people from their homes since the beginning of the year, humanitarian agencies have warned. This dire security situation continues to profoundly impact children and their families across this Central Sahel nation.
The Rapid Response Operational Coordination Group (GCORR) reports that close to 37,000 households have been displaced following 48 separate alerts, marking a 92% increase compared to the same period in 2024. In May alone, the GCORR documented approximately 41,000 individuals affected by 12 displacement alerts nationwide.
The Boucle du Mouhoun region has borne the brunt of this crisis, with over 106,000 people displaced, including more than 65,000 children, across 13 localities such as Dédougou, Di, and Tougan. This figure represents 45% of all internally displaced persons in the country.
significant humanitarian needs persist
The overall security landscape in Burkina Faso remains volatile, characterized by persistent attacks in the Sahel, Nord, Centre-Nord, Est, Centre-Est, and Boucle du Mouhoun regions. These assaults have targeted the national Defense and Security Forces, Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), and local communities.
According to UNICEF, these acts of violence have generated profound humanitarian needs across all sectors. The most critical requirements include emergency shelter, food security, access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), protection services, and education.
While various organizations are actively providing support on the ground, significant gaps in the humanitarian response persist despite ongoing efforts.
Regarding nutrition, over 10,000 children nationwide were admitted for treatment of severe acute malnutrition in April. More than half of these cases originated from regions severely affected by jihadist violence, including Boucle du Mouhoun, Nord, Est, Sahel, and Centre-Nord.
severe acute malnutrition crisis
From January to April, over 36,000 children received treatment for malnutrition, with more than 20,000 of them residing in insecure zones. By the end of May, 179,000 individuals (representing 28% of the 1.3 million people in need), including over 25,000 children, had been treated for acute malnutrition. Among these, more than 8,000 children were suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
More broadly, the deteriorating security environment is severely hampering humanitarian operations. It restricts access to affected populations, heightens operational risks for aid workers, and exacerbates the assistance needs of communities.
Following attacks in the Est and Sahel regions, vital local infrastructure, particularly in health, education, water, and administration, has been destroyed, further compounding the crisis.
djibo under jihadist blockade
Among the hardest-hit areas is Djibo, located in the Soum province in northern Burkina Faso. Its entire population, estimated at approximately 48,000 people (comprising both displaced individuals and host communities), has been cut off from supplies since December 2024 due to a jihadist blockade.
UNICEF, through its local partners in Djibo, is implementing various programs focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene, education, child protection, health, and nutrition to address the urgent needs of the isolated population.
Humanitarian workers, much like the affected communities, face constant threats from improvised explosive devices and kidnappings. Beyond the challenges of access, a critical shortage of resources represents another significant hurdle, severely impacting the capacity to respond effectively in insecurity-plagued regions, as emphasized by UNICEF.
