The United Nations has warned that approximately four million people have been forcibly displaced across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger as insecurity deepens across the Central Sahel.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) disclosed this during a press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on Saturday.

UNHCR regional director for West and Central Africa, Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, said escalating violence and cross-border insecurity were placing increasing pressure on vulnerable communities.

The warning has implications for wider West African stability, including cross-border security and migration pressures affecting Nigeria.

Mr Gnon-Konde spoke following visits to several locations in Mali and Burkina Faso.

He said security incidents across the region had almost doubled since 2020, weakening state institutions and limiting humanitarian access.

According to him, forced displacement across the three countries had also nearly doubled during the period.

The UN official warned that deteriorating security was placing growing pressure on education, healthcare, water supplies and livelihoods.

He expressed particular concern about the future of children and young people affected by prolonged displacement.

Mr Gnon-Konde said approximately 60 to 65 per cent of the region’s population was younger than 25.

However, only about one-third of refugee children had access to primary and secondary education.

He warned that failure to invest in education, employment and economic opportunities could deepen existing instability.

The official also described conditions in Koro, near the Mali-Burkina Faso border, where approximately 85,000 displaced people had arrived in an area hosting about 100,000 residents.

He said the influx was overwhelming local services and creating additional challenges for host communities.

Mr Gnon-Konde called for stronger international engagement, humanitarian financing and investments in sustainable livelihoods.

He stressed that humanitarian assistance alone could not resolve the region’s underlying security and development challenges. 

(NAN)