Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Burkina Faso Needs Aid

 One million people have been driven from their homes by armed groups in Burkina Faso, the world's fastest-growing displacement. In Djibo, the number of displaced people hosted by the community far exceeds the number of inhabitants in the town. The generosity of the locals cannot be overestimated.

Violence and climate change have drastically reduced food production. One person in 10 is food insecure. Without the humanitarian assistance that they receive, thousands of families would go hungry, not knowing where the next meal will come from. 

Nearly a million people have no access to medical care and COVID-19 and the subsequent economic problems have made the situation worse.

2,200 schools are closed in affected areas across the country, depriving 311,000 children of education and putting them at risk of exploitation and abuse. In one of Burkina Faso's most affected regions, Sahel, school attendance has dropped from an already low average of 50-60% to 25% over the past two years. This has an enormous impact on children's futures, particularly for girls, who are often unlikely to return to school.

Opinion: Crisis-crippled Burkina Faso needs urgent help | Opinion | DW | 15.02.2021

No comments: