“Across the central Sahel, violence, insecurity and the devastating effects of climate change are driving people from their homes.”said Abdouraouf Gnon-Kondé, Regional Director for West and Central Africa at the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
“Women and children make up 80 percent of the displaced population, and the protection risks they face – from gender-based violence to trafficking and forced recruitment – are worsening.”
UN reports on the region note that entire communities have been evacuated in Burkina Faso, northern Mali and western Niger as violence between armed groups, communal clashes and military activity spread.
Growing insecurity and decreasing access
Most displaced families remain within their countries, but cross-border movements are becoming more frequent as insecurity spreads and livelihoods collapse.
“These new moves highlight the urgent need to expand assistance and allow people to stay closer to home,”said Gnon-Kondé, warning that families are under increasing pressure as basic services collapse.
Insecurity, he warned, has forced the closure of more than 14,800 schools throughout the region, leaving three million children without access to learning or safe spaces.
More than 900 health centers have also closed, leaving millions of people without access to essential care.
Communities across the Sahel face severe food insecurity due to extreme weather. Here, farmers in Niger try to reclaim degraded land.
Hunger drives displacement
Food insecurity has become an increasing driver of flight, and the proportion of displaced people citing hunger as the main reason for leaving the country has doubled in recent years.
Aid workers have described the situation as a chronic hunger emergency. Estimates indicate that more than 32 million people across the Sahel need humanitarian assistance and protection – many of them urgent interventions in food and nutrition.
Agriculture and livestock have also been affected by the constant displacement of families and the harsh weather conditions.
“Climate-related crises further amplify risks, intensifying competition for scarce natural resources such as land and water,” Gnon-Kondé said.
This is not only fueling new displacements but also testing social cohesion.
Funding gap threatens critical services
UNHCR said humanitarian access and funding has reached a breaking point. Its 2025 appeal of $409.7 million to meet needs in the Sahel is only 32 percent funded, forcing cuts to registration, shelter, education and health programs.
The broader humanitarian appeal of $2.1 billion for Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – covering all sectors – tells a similar story: only 19% has been funded so far.
UNHCR called for “renewed international commitment” to the region, warning that the crisis will only worsen without sustained support.
“Protecting millions of displaced families and ensuring a safer future requires more than words,” said Gnon-Kondé. “It requires unified and sustained action and true solidarity with the Sahel.”