The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued an urgent plea for global assistance to bolster its operations across the Sahel region. Currently, nearly 4 million individuals are displaced within Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and surrounding nations – a staggering increase of approximately two-thirds compared to five years ago. This escalating humanitarian crisis is driven by persistent insecurity, restricted access to vital services, and the severe impacts of climate change.

These continuing population movements coincide with significant challenges to both humanitarian access and funding. The Sahel region is grappling with a dramatic surge in humanitarian needs, yet available resources have seen a substantial decline since 2022, exacerbating the already dire situation.

Critical funding shortfalls impacting Sahel aid

The UNHCR is advocating for a renewed and stronger international commitment to tackle the escalating crisis in the central Sahel. Regional nations cannot manage these complex challenges autonomously. This year, the refugee agency has secured less than a third of its required $409 million funding appeal, severely hampering its ability to respond effectively.

Essential services like registration, documentation, education, healthcare, and shelter have been severely impacted by these financial constraints. Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, Director of the UNHCR‘s Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, further stated, “Over 212,000 refugees and asylum seekers across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger remain unregistered, which restricts their access to critical services and elevates their vulnerability to arbitrary detention and harassment.”

These significant budget reductions occur amidst ongoing violence perpetrated by jihadist groups. Widespread insecurity throughout the region leaves populations exposed to brutality, forced recruitment, limitations on movement, and arbitrary detention, compounding their suffering.

A staggering 80% of forcibly displaced individuals in the region are women and children, making gender-based violence a persistent and severe concern. Data from the inter-agency protection monitoring system in West and Central Africa indicates a significant rise in the number of individuals affected by such incidents this year.

Education and healthcare facilities shuttered amid Sahel crisis

Amidst this pervasive insecurity, over 900 healthcare facilities have also been forced to cease operations, denying millions access to crucial medical care. Across the entire region, more than 14,800 schools had closed by mid-2025, leaving 3 million children without access to education and safe learning environments. This precarious situation further exposes forcibly displaced youth to the heightened risks of forced recruitment and human trafficking.

Furthermore, food insecurity has emerged as an increasingly significant driver of displacement; the percentage of displaced individuals and host community members citing it as a reason for their movement has doubled in recent years.

The UNHCR also highlights that climate-related shocks are intensifying existing risks. These shocks exacerbate competition for scarce natural resources like land and water, thereby creating additional barriers to peaceful coexistence and social cohesion within host communities.