Burkina Faso faces a humanitarian and food crisis affecting nearly five million people

Doctors of the World have raised concerns about the ongoing humanitarian and food crisis in Burkina Faso, stating that nearly five million people are affected.

The organization emphasizes the urgency to prevent the situation from escalating into a famine.

According to the NGO, a quarter of the country’s population is impacted by the food crisis, with 800,000 individuals residing in areas inaccessible due to insecurity, making it challenging to provide humanitarian assistance.

Approximately 3.5 million people cannot secure sufficient food, and among them, 1.3 million are classified as being in a “humanitarian emergency” at phase 4 on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification scale.

This indicates the highest level of severity before reaching famine or a humanitarian disaster.

The organization stresses that many individuals are in a critical situation and on the brink of famine.

In addition to food shortages, the crisis is exacerbated by difficulties in accessing agricultural fields due to armed groups impeding movement and population displacement.

The shortage of livestock, resulting from theft by armed groups and the displacement of the population, has led to higher food prices in the country and scarcity in areas affected by insecurity.

Moreover, the crisis has severely impacted the healthcare system, with numerous health centers closed or operating at a minimum capacity, hindering the transportation of medical supplies due to blockades, explosives, theft, and kidnapping risks.

Burkina Faso has faced persistent jihadist attacks since 2015, leading to over two million people being internally displaced, and a quarter of the population requiring humanitarian aid.

The country’s response plan has called for $800 million in funding, yet only 42% of the necessary amount has been received so far.

It is crucial for international efforts to address the crisis promptly and provide necessary aid to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian and food situation in Burkina Faso.