Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, Director of the UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, highlighted in a press briefing that while the majority of displaced individuals remain within their national borders, cross-border movements are becoming increasingly common. This trend places significant strain on host communities and existing national infrastructures.

These continuous population shifts are occurring amidst severe challenges to both humanitarian access and vital funding. The Sahel has witnessed a dramatic surge in humanitarian requirements, yet resources have sharply declined since 2022.

funding shortfalls exacerbate Sahel crisis

The UNHCR is advocating for a renewed and robust international commitment to confront the deepening crisis in the central Sahel. Regional nations are simply unable to manage these multifaceted challenges independently. Alarmingly, the agency has secured less than a third of its requested $409 million funding appeal for the current year.

Critical operations, including refugee registration, documentation, educational programs, healthcare provisions, and shelter initiatives, have been severely compromised. Mr. Gnon-Konde further noted that “over 212,000 refugees and asylum-seekers across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger remain unregistered, severely restricting their access to fundamental services and elevating their vulnerability to arbitrary detention and harassment.”

These significant funding reductions coincide with the relentless continuation of violence perpetrated by jihadist groups. The pervasive insecurity throughout the region leaves populations exposed to extreme violence, forced recruitment, severe movement restrictions, and arbitrary detention.

Women and children account for a staggering 80% of the forcibly displaced individuals in the Sahel. Gender-based violence (GBV) persists as a grave and widespread concern. Reports from the inter-agency protection monitoring system in West and Central Africa indicate a substantial increase in the number of people affected by such incidents this year.

Thousands of schools forced to close

Amidst this climate of profound insecurity, over 900 healthcare facilities have also been forced to cease operations, consequently denying millions access to critical medical care. Region-wide, more than 14,800 schools had shuttered by mid-2025, leaving 3 million children without access to education and safe learning environments. This dire situation further exposes “forcibly displaced youth to coercive recruitment and human trafficking.”

Furthermore, food insecurity has emerged as an increasingly significant driver of displacement. The proportion of both displaced individuals and members of host communities citing it as a reason for their movement has doubled in recent years.

The UNHCR reports that climate-related shocks are further exacerbating these risks, intensifying competition for scarce natural resources like land and water. This, in turn, creates additional impediments to peaceful coexistence and social cohesion between displaced populations and their host communities.