Burkina Faso

Introduction

Although scale of displacement has reduced and stabilised since 2024, a combination of continuous insecurity and challenging climatic conditions fuels one of the most neglected humanitarian crises globally in Burkina Faso.

The disruption of core livelihoods, such as farming and trade, has resulted in approximately 1.6 million people requiring  emergency food assistance. Displacements, blockades and repeated attacks by radical combatants on villages reduced the availability of essential public services, especially in the sectors of health, education, and water. The massive presence of displaced people in some areas also increases pressure on natural resources and basic public services. 

In such a volatile and insecure environment, access to populations in need of humanitarian assistance is difficult and limited, especially in the areas which are not yet controlled by the state. 

Facts & figures

Through its humanitarian efforts, the EU provides vital support to those in need.

EU humanitarian funding:

€363.05 million since 2014

What are the needs?

The security crisis affects most of the regions in Burkina Faso, persisting in bordering areas in the north and east of the country, where the majority of casualties is reported, and  intensifying significantly  in the western region (about half of 2025 displacement took places in the Boucle du Mouhoun). According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), violence caused 5,274 fatalities in 2025.

Humanitarian assistance

Based on data provided in the National Humanitarian Response Plan released by the authorities and the Response Plan launched by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the number people in need of humanitarian assistance for 2026 is estimated at 4.5 million people.

Food security

The protracted conflict has thoroughly deteriorated the country’s food security situation. The latest available data from the World Food Programme (WFP) indicate that, at the national level, food security has overall slightly improved compared with 2024-25 due to better agricultural production and sustained food assistance. Yet, according to the 2026 government data, 1.6 million people suffer from acute food insecurity, of which more than 223,000 in emergency phase (phase 4).

Displacement

Consolidated population displacement figures have not been officially updated since March 2023, when it was estimated that 2.1 million people, about 9% of the Burkinabe population, were internally displaced due to violence. As far as new displacements are concerned, according to the Coordination platform for the rapid response, about 400 000 new internally displaced persons (IDPs) were registered in 2025, similarly to 2024. This marks a decrease of about 700 000 IDPs recorded yearly compared to 2023 and 2022. Authorities communicate on the return  home of  1 million people. 

According to UNHCR, the number of registered and verified refugees and asylum seekers remain stable to 43,400. The scale of new displacement, although diminishing, remains therefore significant and emergency response continues to be necessary for communities fleeing new shocks. However, the majority of the IDPs in Burkina Faso have now been displaced for more than 3 years, and more durable and autonomising response needs to be developed for them , especially since many are considering to stay definitely at their place of relocation, while others would opt to return once stability prevails in their places of origin.

Protection of people

The persistence of violence affects people’s basic needs and income opportunities. Access to fields and markets is challenging, and families cannot always meet their needs. In urban centres where some stability and security prevail, a large-scale and sustained presence of displaced persons is increasingly putting pressure on the capacities of the hosting communities, the public services and infrastructures.

In alignment with the government priorities, the authorities have taken several measures for regulating the work of aid actors in the country, requiring regular dialogue and coordination between the humanitarian community and the government. Continuous exchanges could also address the potential of efficient and safe aid modalities, such as the use of vouchers, and possibly cash, currently banned in the country. 

Humanitarian access to those in need remains challenging. Movements, especially on secondary axes, are constrained due to risks of attacks or when operations of security forces are taking place. The increasing use of explosive devices by radical groups renders the delivery of aid more dangerous as well. For larger convoys, on sensitive roads, risks of attacks are significant, and the use of armed escorts is mandatory, undermining the delivery of assistance to almost 1 million people in the 34 locations under blockade. 

Impact on education and healthcare

The conflict severely impacts educational and health facilities. In December 2024, OCHA reported that over 5,000 schools were closed because of the violence, impacting over 800,000 children, the majority obliged to adapt their scholarships in new areas of displacement. According to the health cluster (November 2024), 733 health facilities have closed or reduced their operations due to insecurity. This means that more than 4 million people must seek alternatives for healthcare elsewhere. The situation is particularly worrying in regions that are not yet controlled by the authorities and where delivery of aid is extremely limited.  

How are we helping?

In 2026, the EU has allocated an initial €27.5 million in humanitarian assistance to support the most vulnerable in the country. In 2025, the EU allocated €43.1 million.

These funds support actions on:

EU humanitarian aid focuses primarily on the urgent needs of populations affected by the security crisis, as well as victims of natural disasters, giving priority to unstable areas and those facing food and nutrition emergencies. The humanitarian response will ensure that protection is at the heart of the assistance provided and will target those most in need. In terms of priority, the focus will be on:

• meeting the emergency needs of newly displaced persons victims of shocks/violence;
• populations trapped by the crisis in hard-to-reach areas, under blockade, and heavily dependent on external aid deliveries to meet their basic needs. 

Humanitarian air operations

Supporting the operations to enable partners to operate in a complex environment is also key in this context, the EU notably supports humanitarian air operations. Together with the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), the EU has been providing last-mile access to remote regions and areas under blockade which can be reached exclusively by air. Since 2022, we have been operating an EU-funded EU Humanitarian Air Flight (EU HAF) helicopter at the service of the entire humanitarian community and EU partners, carrying up to 800 passengers per month, in addition to cargo.

We also contribute to building the capacity of local organisations to prepare for, and respond to, emergencies. 

Displaced people

Uprooted Burkinabe people and host communities receive food assistance, shelter, and essential items. Our priority is also to improve access to healthcare and mental health support to help people overcome trauma or other protection issues due to conflict. 

Education

EU support provides education in an environment where schools have been closed, and teachers and students face threats from armed groups. Protection is mainstreamed in all funded actions.

Food assistance

EU humanitarian aid funds the delivery of emergency food assistance to the most vulnerable in the most affected areas and to the most vulnerable in the areas under blockade during the lean season – the crucial period of the year between harvests, normally running from June to September, when food reserves are depleted. At the same time, the assistance provides free nutritional care for malnourished children under 5 years old. 

Disaster and preparedness

We are also supporting actions on disaster risk reduction. Ongoing programmes include increasing communities’ preparedness to face health risks and strengthening the national response system to prevent and manage food and nutrition crises. 

To reinforce people's ability to cope with crises, the EU links its humanitarian emergency assistance with its longer-term development cooperation.