The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a critical appeal for immediate international support to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region. Nearly 4 million people have been displaced across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and neighboring countries—a staggering 66% increase over the past five years. This surge is driven by escalating insecurity, limited access to essential services, and the worsening impacts of climate change.
Regional displacement trends and challenges
While most internally displaced persons (IDPs) remain within their country of origin, cross-border movements are becoming increasingly common. This trend is placing immense pressure on host communities and national systems in West Africa. According to Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, UNHCR’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, “The shifting patterns of displacement are intensifying the strain on already fragile infrastructures and resources across the Sahel.”
The crisis is compounded by severe humanitarian access constraints and declining funding. Since 2022, the Sahel has experienced a sharp rise in humanitarian needs, yet available resources have dwindled significantly. For 2025, the UNHCR has received less than one-third of its $409 million funding appeal, leaving critical programs under-resourced.
Budget cuts threaten essential services
Essential operations such as registration, documentation, education, healthcare, and shelter support have been severely impacted. Over 212,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger remain unregistered, restricting their access to vital services and increasing risks of arbitrary detention and harassment. “Unregistered individuals face heightened vulnerabilities, including limited protection and exposure to exploitation,” Gnon-Konde emphasized.
The ongoing violence by jihadist groups continues to exacerbate the situation. Insecurity across the region exposes civilians to violence, forced recruitment, movement restrictions, and arbitrary detention. Women and children constitute 80% of the forcibly displaced population, and gender-based violence remains a pervasive and growing concern. The Inter-Agency Regional Protection Monitoring System reports a significant rise in such incidents this year.
Education and healthcare systems collapse under pressure
In this climate of instability, over 900 health facilities have been forced to close, depriving millions of access to essential medical care. By mid-2025, more than 14,800 schools across the Sahel had shut down, leaving 3 million children without education or safe spaces. This educational void further exposes vulnerable youth to risks such as forced recruitment and human trafficking.
Food insecurity has also become a major driver of displacement. The proportion of displaced individuals and host community members citing hunger as a reason for leaving their homes has doubled in recent years. The UNHCR highlights that climate-related shocks are intensifying competition for dwindling natural resources like land and water, further straining social cohesion and peaceful coexistence with host communities.
Call for global action
The UNHCR underscores that no single country in the region can tackle these challenges alone. Renewed and strengthened international commitment is urgently needed to prevent further deterioration. Without adequate funding and support, the humanitarian situation in the Sahel will continue to deteriorate, with devastating consequences for millions of vulnerable people.
