Although security incidents decreased between May and June in the Central Sahel, this improvement has had no impact on the humanitarian situation, according to the latest report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Despite a significant 50 percent reduction in reported security incidents in the Central Sahel, the region continues to suffer the devastating effects of violence, conflict and insecurity, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Between May and June 2024, 2,864 people lost their lives, a slight decrease from the 3,393 deaths recorded between February and April 2024, the UN agency reported in a statement released on July 30.
However, according to OCHA, the situation remains critical, with more than 2.6 million internally displaced people and 326,900 refugees in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. OCHA notes that this figure represents a 15 percent increase over the previous period, underscoring the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.
Displaced and vulnerable populations in the central Sahel face severe food insecurity and increasing malnutrition, while access to basic services is limited. According to OCHA, 8,065 schools are not functioning and 556 health centers are not operational, with Burkina Faso the country most affected by these closures.
Despite ongoing violence, access difficulties and financial constraints, 252 humanitarian organizations are striving to provide vital assistance to affected populations in the region. However, funding remains a major challenge. To date, only US$580 million has been received, representing only 25% of the funds needed to support the 9 million people in need.
OCHA is calling for an urgent increase in international financial support to meet growing needs and prevent a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Central Sahel.
The security situation in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger has been seriously deteriorating for several years. This growing insecurity has led to coups in these countries over the past four years.
In Mali, the military seized power in August 2020 after deposing Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, known as IBK, and then staged a second coup eleven months later against the transition it had put in place. In Burkina Faso, President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was deposed in January 2022 by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who was himself deposed eight months later by Captain Ibrahim Traoré. General Abdourahamane Tiani followed suit, overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger on July 26, 2023.
Since these events, these countries have moved closer to Russia in their fight against terrorism.
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