The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has issued a warning about the escalating hunger crisis in Burkina Faso, attributing it to the ongoing security challenges in certain regions of the country.
Presently, approximately 2.2 million people, which accounts for one in ten of the population, are already facing hunger. However, the situation is expected to worsen, with the IRC predicting that this number could rise to 3.3 million by September.
The surge in militant Islamist insurgency has severely impacted parts of Burkina Faso, leading to significant disruptions in food supplies and the closure of healthcare facilities.
The resulting isolation has left communities almost entirely cut off from assistance. Particularly affected is the northern town of Djibo, which is currently hosting over 200,000 people who have been displaced from their homes in other regions.
The once-thriving food market in Djibo is now nearly empty, and an alarming 80% of local health clinics have been forced to shut down, as per the IRC’s report.
Tragically, last year, a supply convoy en route to Djibo, escorted by the army, was ambushed, resulting in the loss of 11 soldiers’ lives.
The IRC is calling for greater international attention to address the dire situation faced by the people in Burkina Faso.
The country is currently under the governance of a military junta led by President Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who assumed power in October with a promise to reclaim territory from the militants. However, the security challenges persist, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the nation.