Burkina Faso

Year-end Overview

Plan Overview

Operational environment

Widespread and indiscriminate violence are likely to persist in Burkina Faso in 2021, forcing growing numbers of people to flee. In addition to more than 1,650,000 IDPs, the country continues to host more than 21,700 refugees and asylum-seekers, mostly from Mali. Further instability in Mali and the political situation in Côte d'Ivoire may lead to new arrivals in 2021. The socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are adding to an already dire humanitarian situation, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and needs among the host community and displaced populations.
 
To respond to this humanitarian and displacement crisis, the Government of Burkina Faso launched an emergency response plan supported by UNHCR and the UN Country Team through the inter-agency coordination structures for internal displacement. As per Inter-Agency Standing Committee arrangements, UNHCR leads the protection and shelter and non-food items clusters, and the camp management and camp coordination working group. With UNHCR’s support, the National Council for Emergency Support and Rehabilitation developed a registration system for IDPs to facilitate their access to assistance and protection interventions. To avoid overcrowding in IDP settlements and facilitate IDPs’ access to basic services, UNHCR is working with the authorities to secure additional land to build new sites as displacement grows.
 
In coordination with key development and peace actors, UNHCR will also support Government efforts to include refugees and IDPs in national and local development plans. 

Key priorities

In line with the UNHCR Strategic Directions 2017-2021, the Policy on UNHCR's Engagement in Situations of Internal Displacement, and the priorities of the Bamako Process and the Sahel Strategy, in 2021 UNHCR in Burkina Faso will focus on:

• Strengthening protection of people of concern from the effects of armed conflict, including by monitoring their situation, preserving their access to territory and the right to seek asylum, and issuing more identity and travel documents to those who need them.
• Providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to refugee, IDP and host communities, including through area-based approaches and by leading the protection, shelter and non-food items clusters, as well as the camp coordination and camp management working group.
• Promoting inclusive and community-based approaches to reinforce social cohesion and peaceful coexistence with host communities, including when preventing and responding to protection risks, such as gender-based violence (with a special focus on facilitating access to medical care); strengthening education and self-reliance opportunities.
• Ensuring any humanitarian response is complemented by long-term development and peacebuilding interventions that address the root causes of the crisis and foster peaceful coexistence between communities.
• Establishing, improving and maintaining shelter and infrastructure for people of concern, including by providing materials and the tools necessary for maintenance, and offering long-term or permanent solutions. To this end, UNHCR will partner with development actors such as the World Bank and support the Government’s engagement in the Bamako Process, which aims to implement the Conclusion of the Bamako Declaration.