Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso continues to experience the worst humanitarian crisis in its history, with an estimated 10 per cent of the population - or more than 2 million people - internally displaced due to violence and insecurity. 

The humanitarian situation is dire and there are serious protection concerns, as well as security incidents affecting civilians which went up by 60 per cent in the first three quarters of 2023 compared to the previous year. Basic social services are increasingly overwhelmed, exacerbating humanitarian needs.  

Burkina Faso is also one of the world’s most neglected crises, without sufficient attention and funding from the international community.

In 2024, initial estimates by the humanitarian community project that 6.3 million people will need humanitarian assistance across the country’s 13 regions, up by 35 per cent in comparison to 2023. As of February 2024, these figures were being finalized in consultation with partners and Burkinabe authorities. 

Among those most affected are the approximately 1.2 million people in some 40 population centres across seven regions cut off from the rest of the country. They are dependent on irregular resupply by commercial convoys moving under military escort, and humanitarian cargo flights that are more regular but limited in capacity.

Humanitarian action in Burkina Faso relies heavily on helicopter transport for passengers and cargo, which costs 12 to 50 times more than overland transport. Moreover, humanitarian efforts are concentrated within the circumference of these population centres.

In 2024, the UN and partners estimate they will need US$935 million to provide life-saving assistance and protection services to some 3.8 million people. At the same time, some investments in helping people become more resilient to shocks will be needed for displaced and non-displaced communities especially for those remain out of their homes for more than two years.