Burkina Faso
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FACTS & FIGURES 2.8 million people need emergency food assistance during the lean season, a 156% increase compared to 2020 (Cadre Harmonisé, March 2021) More than 1.4 million internally displaced people (CONASUR, August 2021). 38,000 Burkinabè refugees and asylum seekers across the region (UNHCR, July 2021) Hosting 22,800 refugees from Mali (UNHCR, September 2021) More than 150,000 malnourished children require life-saving treatment. EU humanitarian funding: © WFP/Eugene Kabore, 2020 €32.3 million in 2021 More than €162 million since 2014 Last updated 28/09/2021 European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Burkina Faso Introduction The humanitarian situation is deteriorating quickly and severely in Burkina Faso, a fragile country among the 10 poorest in the world. The internal conflict has intensified, spreading across all regions in the nation. Armed violence has caused massive population displacements, while civilians are increasingly targeted. A state of emergency remains in force in 14 of the 45 provinces. What are the needs? Conflict affects most of the regions in Burkina Faso, especially in the north and east of the country, close to the borders with Mali and Niger. More than 1.4 million people are internally displaced as a result. This represents a 50-fold increase in the last 3 years. In 2020, violent attacks claimed almost 2,300 lives. The widespread violence affects people’s basic needs and livelihoods. Access to fields and markets is challenging, meaning families cannot always meet their needs. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that this year, 3.5 million people need humanitarian aid (an increase of 20% compared to 2020). The conflict has also severely struck many educational and health facilities. As of September 2021, more than 2,000 schools remained closed, leaving 300,000 pupils out of school. Some 321 local health centres were either shut down, dysfunctional, or used as temporary shelter for internally displaced people. This means that over 810,000 individuals have restricted access to health care. COVID-19 posed an additional challenge to the already fragile health system. Other epidemics such as cholera and meningitis also regularly occur. The volatile security situation makes it difficult for humanitarian workers to access people in need, further exacerbating humanitarian needs in these hard-to-reach communities. Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid How are we helping? In 2021, the EU is supporting humanitarian action in Burkina Faso with €32.3 million, including funding to address food insecurity. EU humanitarian aid focuses on supporting internally displaced people and host populations affected by the ongoing armed conflict. The aim is to address the food and nutritional crisis, and build the capacity of local organisations to prepare for, and respond to, emergencies. Uprooted Burkinabe people and host communities receive food assistance, shelter, and basic essential items. Improving access to healthcare and providing mental health support to help people overcome the traumatic experience of conflict is also a priority. EU support provides education in an environment where schools have closed and teachers and students face threats from armed groups. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, EU-funded humanitarian projects were adapted to help beneficiaries and ensure staff stay safe. Actions already focusing on the health sector and in providing access to clean water and sanitation are taking into account new needs brought about by the pandemic, in line with the country’s COVID-19 Response Plan. The EU also supported WHO programmes on early detection and response, and providing adequate expertise on the ground. EU humanitarian aid funds the delivery of emergency food assistance during the lean season – the crucial period of the year between harvests, normally running from June to September, when food reserves are depleted. At the same time, assistance provides free nutritional care for malnourished children under 5 years. EU aid in Burkina Faso also supports disaster risk reduction. Ongoing programmes include increasing communities’ preparedness to face health risks and strengthening the national response system to prevent and manage food and nutrition crises. To reinforce people's ability to cope with crises, the EU links its humanitarian emergency assistance with its longer-term development cooperation. In this respect, EU development assistance in Burkina Faso supports a national programme enabling access to free healthcare for children under the age of 5. This ensures that life-saving interventions addressing malnutrition are maintained, beyond the immediate, short-term emergency measures funded by humanitarian aid. European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations - B-1049 Brussels, Belgium - E-mail:[email protected] Website: http://ec.europa.eu/echo - Facebook: @ec.humanitarian.aid - Twitter: @eu_echo - Instagram: @eu_echo .