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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

“He who has health has hope”: emergency medical care for IDPs in Burkina Faso

Over 40 million people are currently facing starvation in the Sahel, including in Burkina Faso, where conflict is the leading cause of food insecurity. At least 1.7 million people are internally displaced (IDPs) due to the ongoing violence - including almost 900,000 children (as of September 2022), according to government figures.

In most of the country, widespread violence affects people’s basic needs and income opportunities. Access to fields and markets is challenging, and families cannot always meet their needs.

In August 2022, the United Nations increased the estimated number of Burkinabe requiring humanitarian aid by 40% to 4.9 million. This includes 3.4 million people who are severely food insecure.

Humanitarian access remains a challenge due to the conflict dynamics and actions taken by non-state armed groups (use of explosive devices, irregular controls on roads, attacks on vital infrastructure facilities such as water points, etc.).

The conflict has also severely affected educational and health facilities. As of June 2022, over 4,250 schools remained closed, leaving more than 700,000 pupils out of school.

Over 500 health facilities are affected by conflict, of which 192 are entirely closed. This leaves over 2 million individuals with restricted access to health care. Epidemics such as cholera and meningitis are recurrent.

In 2022, the EU allocated €53.4 million in humanitarian aid to Burkina Faso. With this funding, our humanitarian partners can provide nutrition assistance and health care to those who need it the most.

One of these partners is Doctors of the World (Médecins du Monde), which, with EU humanitarian support, provides health care services in 39 facilities in the Dori, Djibo and Kaya areas of Burkina Faso.

Group of people in front of a shelter tent.
EU humanitarian aid focuses on supporting vulnerable internally displaced people and host populations affected by the ongoing armed conflict in Burkina Faso, and the wider region.
© Doctors of the World, 2022 (photographer: Olympia de Maismont)
A woman feeding a child that is sitting on her lap.
The conflict affects most of the regions in Burkina Faso, and 3.4 million affected people are severely food insecure.
© Doctors of the World, 2022 (photographer: Olympia de Maismont)
Family sitting around a bowl of food, on the left a motorcycle.
Children under 5 among conflict-affected people benefit from nutritional and psychosocial care.
© Doctors of the World, 2022 (photographer: Olympia de Maismont)
Woman sitting at a fire pit, in the background a makeshift shelter.
EU aid supports vulnerable internally displaced people - and host populations - affected by the ongoing armed conflict.
© Doctors of the World, 2022 (photographer: Olympia de Maismont)
Group of children at a water point
EU development assistance to Burkina Faso has long supported a national programme to provide free health care for children under 5.
© Doctors of the World, 2022 (photographer: Olympia de Maismont)
Group of children sitting and standing around a tree trunk
In 2022, more than 179,000 malnourished children required life-saving treatment in 2022.
© Doctors of the World, 2022 (photographer: Olympia de Maismont)
Group of women feeding children sitting on their lap.
Communities affected by the conflict in the project area, especially women and children, now have access to inclusive and quality primary and secondary health care.
© Doctors of the World, 2022 (photographer: Olympia de Maismont)
Woman filling a small bucket with food from a large bowl.
The project aims to improve access to health services in 39 facilities in Dori, Djibo and Kaya. It focuses on preventing child malnutrition, combining awareness, care, and hygiene practices.
© Doctors of the World, 2022 (photographer: Olympia de Maismont)
Group of women with children listening, in the background panels with drawings about basic healthcare.
Over 500 health facilities are affected by conflict, of which 192 are entirely closed. This leaves over 2 million individuals with restricted access to health care.
© Doctors of the World, 2022 (photographer: Olympia de Maismont)
View of the back of one of the aid workers explaining basic health care to a group of women with children.
The project covers primary health care, as well as psychological first aid to survivors of violence.
© Doctors of the World, 2022 (photographer: Olympia de Maismont)

Story by Hilaire Avril, Regional Officer for West and Central Africa, EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
Photos:
© Doctors of the World, 2022 (photographer: Olympia de Maismont)
Publication date: 13/01/2023