Climate, conflicts... In the Central Sahel, more than 16 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance

An "unprecedented" figure. In the central Sahel, composed of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, more than 16 million people, affected by climate change and armed conflict, are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to a report published Monday by the American NGO International Rescue Committee (IRC). This represents "an increase of 172% since 2016", says the IRC, which adds that "the three countries represent only 0.9% of the world's population but 5% of the world's humanitarian needs".

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have been facing deadly jihadist violence in several parts of their territory for nearly a decade. At the same time, much of the central Sahel "is highly exposed to climate change. Temperatures are rising 1.5 times faster than in the rest of the world and an increase of between 2 and 4.3°C is projected by 2080," the report says. "Longer" dry seasons or floods "disrupt agriculture", which supports "78% of the population" in this region.

A "vicious circle" according to the IRC, which points out that climate change and poverty increase the risk of armed conflicts, which further increase the latter. The NGO adds that this multiple crisis, which affects women in particular in a "disproportionate" way, "forces people to leave their homes and destroys their sources of income". Nearly 3 million people are displaced, including 2 million inside Burkina Faso alone, the organization writes.

"Low capacity" of the three countries

The report also points to the "weak capacity" of the three states - among the ten least developed in the world, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), cited by the report. According to the IRC, this humanitarian situation is due as much to "French colonial authorities" who have "neglected" the development of certain rural areas as to post-independence governments.

Finally, the NGO points out that "frequent coups d'état" - 17 in the central Sahel since 1960 - have upset economic policies and pushed governments to concentrate their spending on defense. It recommends providing immediate humanitarian assistance to the countries of the Central Sahel, in particular by improving access.