Burkina Faso: MSF Calls for More Humanitarian Aid

Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has said that the political and humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso has left many in a struggle for food, water, shelter and medical care.

The humanitarian organisation, in a recent report, said that attacks and kidnapping of humanitarian workers in the country have slowed the provision of a life-saving response to those who need it the most.

Since 2015, 7,569 people have been killed, while over 1.5 million persons have been displaced due to the crisis, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Reports suggest that the 24 January coup has worsened the deteriorating security situation and the governance deficit that has been present in the country.

‘The impact of the conflict on local people has been more and more pronounced’, MSF said in the report.

‘Beyond the direct effects of physical violence, many have also lost their homes and livelihoods. For rural communities, fleeing one’s home also means loss of harvest and livestock.

‘Next season, many people will be unable to plant or harvest any crops. With so many people dependent on farming and herding to feed their families, food availability is a matter of major concern’.

A total of 3.3 million people are estimated to be facing acute food insecurity in the country, with the Covid-19 pandemic contributing to a sharp spike in numbers, according to data from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

Access to medical care has also been interrupted as numerous health facilities have reportedly come under attack by conflicting parties.

According to the country’s Ministry of Health, 357 health facilities across the nation are either shut or not fully operational as of June 2021.

‘People need more food, more water, and better access to health care in all the regions currently affected by conflict in Burkina Faso’, the report added.

Despite reporting the shortage of medical specialists, including surgeons, anaesthetists, and midwives, MSF says it will continue to provide aid where possible.

Source: MSF

Photo source: Seigneur Yves Wilikoesse/MSF

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