Conflict, climate change force millions to flee their homes in Sahel region

The figure represents a two-thirds increase in displacement in the past five years, with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger at the centre of simultaneous humanitarian emergencies.

“Across the central Sahel region, people are being driven from their homes by violence, insecurity and the devastating effects of climate change,” said Abdelauf Guenon-Condé, Regional Director for West and Central Africa at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Women and children make up 80 per cent of the displaced population, and the protection risks they face – from gender-based violence to trafficking and forced labour – are worsening.

UN reports from the region indicate that entire communities have been uprooted in Burkina Faso, northern Mali and western Niger as violence between armed groups, sectarian clashes and military activity escalate.

Most displaced families remain within their own countries, but cross-border movements are increasingly common as insecurity spreads and livelihoods collapse.

“These developments highlight the urgent need to scale up assistance and empower people to stay close to home,” said Mr. Guenon-Condé, warning that families are under increasing pressure due to a lack of basic services.

He warned that insecurity has led to the closure of more than 14,800 schools across the region, depriving three million children of access to education or safe spaces. More than 900 health facilities have also closed, cutting off access to essential care for millions.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said access to humanitarian aid and funding had reached a critical point. The agency’s appeal for $409.7 million to cover needs in the Sahel region for 2025 is only 32 percent funded, cutting costs for registration, shelter, education and health programs.