UN agencies express alarm
over deteriorating humanitarian situation in Central Sahel
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| Workers carry the aid provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) for distribution in Pissila, Burkina Faso |
Increasing poverty, the effects of climate change, rapidly
escalating conflict and deteriorating security are threatening the lives of
millions of people across the Central Sahel.
By Lydia O’Kane
UN agencies including the World Food Programme (WFP) and the
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) are sounding the alarm over the
escalating humanitarian crisis in Africa’s Central Sahel region.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger
WFP said that conflict and violence in Burkina Faso, Mali,
and Niger, are exacerbating the effects of climate change on people’s food
security.
Around 3.3 million people in the Central Sahel need
immediate assistance and if action is not taken urgently nearly 4.8 million
people will be at risk of food insecurity between June and August.
The World Food Programme is currently supporting 1.4 million
people across the three countries with vital food assistance.
During his Urbi et Orbi address at Christmas, Pope Francis
prayed that the Redeemer, would bring comfort “to the victims of attacks by
extremist groups, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.”
Speaking to Vatican News, the Head of Communcation and
Advocacy for WFP in West and Central Africa, George Fominyen, said
that “rapidly escalating armed conflict” has seen scores of people killed and
hundreds of thousands of people displaced. This he added, “has led to a very
difficult humanitarian situation for most of the people who have been
affected.”
Fominyen noted that in the last year or so there has been an
increase of attacks which have involved civilians. He said, that whether they
are being directly or indirectly attacked, “they face the brunt of the crisis”.
Nearly one million people internally displaced
“Villages are being emptied out in parts of Burkina Faso,
Mali and Niger”, the Head of Communication highlighted, “and so you have more
than 950,000 people who are internally displaced within these three countries.”
With attacks continuing to occur every day, schools have
been closed, and the violence is also impeding access to humanitarian aid.
George Fominyen called it a “rising humanitarian crisis
because of the numbers, which are escalating, but also the people who are
therefore in need.”
He pointed out that despite restrictions of movement due to
the conflict, humanitarian organisations are doing “their utmost to be able to
overcome these challenges and try to reach people”.
International response
He stressed that what is essential is the international
attention on the situation, which should consider that there is a rapid need to
scale up in terms of the humanitarian response, and assist people in need so
that they are able to have the basics, which is food, shelter, health and
education.”
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