unhcr urges global support for Sahel’s 4 million displaced
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a critical appeal for immediate global assistance to support its vital operations across the Sahel region. Approximately four million individuals are currently displaced in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and neighboring nations – a staggering two-thirds increase over the past five years – driven by persistent insecurity, restricted access to essential services, and the escalating impacts of climate change.
Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, Director of the UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, highlighted during a press briefing that while the majority of displaced individuals remain within their home countries, cross-border movements are intensifying. This trend places significant strain on host communities and national infrastructure.
These ongoing population displacements coincide with severe challenges in humanitarian access and funding availability. The Sahel has seen a dramatic surge in humanitarian needs, yet resources have dwindled substantially since 2022.
Severe Funding Shortfalls
The UNHCR is urging a renewed and robust international commitment to address the escalating crisis in the central Sahel. The nations within the region are simply unable to manage these immense challenges independently. This year, the agency has secured less than one-third of its critical $409 million funding appeal.
Crucial services, including registration, documentation, education, healthcare, and shelter, have been severely impacted. Mr. Gnon-Konde further noted that “Over 212,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger remain unregistered, which restricts their access to vital services and heightens their vulnerability to arbitrary detention and harassment.”
These profound budget reductions are occurring amidst ongoing violence perpetrated by jihadist groups. The pervasive insecurity across the entire region leaves populations exposed to brutality, forced recruitment, severe movement restrictions, and arbitrary detention.
Women and children constitute a staggering 80% of all forcibly displaced individuals in the region, with gender-based violence remaining a grave and widespread concern. Data from the inter-agency protection monitoring system in West and Central Africa indicates a significant increase in the number of individuals affected by such incidents this year.
Critical Services Disrupted: Schools and Healthcare Shut
Amidst this climate of pervasive insecurity, over 900 healthcare facilities have also been forced to cease operations, denying millions access to essential medical care. Across the region, by mid-2025, more than 14,800 schools had closed, leaving three million children without access to education and safe learning environments. This dire situation further exposes “forcibly displaced young people to coerced recruitment and human trafficking.”
Furthermore, food insecurity has emerged as an increasingly significant driver of displacement; the percentage of displaced individuals and host community members citing it as a reason for their movement has doubled in recent years.
The UNHCR emphasizes that climate-related shocks exacerbate these risks, intensifying competition for scarce natural resources like land and water, and introducing additional impediments to peaceful coexistence and social cohesion with host communities.