UNHCR: Deepening Humanitarian Crisis in Sahel Region Demands Urgent Action

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed deep concern about the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region of West Africa, reliefweb reported yesterday.

Over 3.3 million people have been forcibly displaced in the Central Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger due to relentless conflict exacerbated by the climate crisis.

The security situation remains volatile, forcing civilians to flee their homes in search of safety, with women and children particularly vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and trafficking, the source mentioned.

The lack of adequate shelter, clean water, and sanitation is exacerbating the dire conditions faced by the displaced, the humanitarian-info website added.

It also noted that, while neighboring countries have kept their borders open to refugees, the crisis continues to deepen, with over 550,000 refugees fleeing the region in the last four years.

UNHCR is calling for immediate international action to address this growing humanitarian emergency.