Burkina Faso, Mali and Western Niger – Humanitarian Overview (as of 29 April 2026)

Countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached Infographic. The Central Sahel is facing a severe and protracted humanitarian crisis driven by persistent armed conflict, mass displacement, and the progressive collapse of basic services. From January to March 2026, 2, 640 persons died due to conflict with the region recording 1, 179 security incidents, reflecting sustained insecurity across Burkina Faso, Mali, and western Niger. The region hosts 2. 8 million internally displaced persons, including 2. 1 million in Burkina Faso, 415, 000 in Mali, and 283, 000 in Niger, alongside 444, 400 refugees. Humanitarian needs are acute and worsening. An estimated 11. 4 million people need critical food assistance, including 2. 7 million facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+, or crisis and worse, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification). The nutrition situation is particularly alarming, with 401, 000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Essential services are deteriorating rapidly, with non-functional 3, 794 schools and 974 health facilities, undermining both immediate survival and long term resilience. Despite operational hindrances, 232 humanitarian partners remain active across affected crises areas. However, insecurity, access constraints, and funding shortfalls significantly limit response coverage, especially in hard to reach and newly affected zones. In 2026, the response aims to assist 7. 6 million prioritized people, requiring US$ 215 million. To date, only 28 per cent of required funding has been secured, threatening the continuity of humanitarian interventions.

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