Burkina Faso: Crisis and Calls for Action

ABSTRACT

Unprecedented human rights abuses, violent attacks by armed Islamist groups, and political instability brought on by military coups characterise the crises that Burkina Faso experienced in 2022. Nearly 2 million people were internally displaced due to the 40% of the country that was under the authority of armed factions.

Burkina Faso is expected to experience a severe humanitarian disaster in July and August 2023. Over 800,000 people live in blockaded cities and are in desperate need of relief, which is needed by close to 5 million people. Nearly 650,000 people are on the verge of hunger, and over 2.2 million people experience severe food shortages. Security, healthcare, and education are all negatively impacted.

The problem in Burkina Faso is exacerbated by resource competition, the effects of climate change, poverty, and political instability. This complicated situation needs immediate, global attention and concerted response.

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Introduction

In 2022, Burkina Faso went through an extraordinary crisis characterised by significant human rights breaches, increasing attacks by armed Islamist groups on civilians, and massive violations during counterterrorism operations by military and pro-government militias. Political unrest that was made worse by two military coups made the situation even more difficult. As a result of the bloodshed, sources indicated that armed Islamist factions now control almost 40% of the country.

The severe humanitarian crisis was made worse by these continuous attacks, affecting 10 of Burkina Faso's 13 regions and targeted both military and civilian objectives. Internal displacement affected about 2 million people, or 10% of the total population. Despite these alarming developments, there have only been a few attempts to hold anyone accountable for violating human rights, particularly security personnel. The government has made steps to lessen the effects of violent social media posts and cut down on the number of people detained without cause. The country's mechanisms for upholding the law, however, continue to be frail.

The military takeovers and atrocities carried out by Islamist armed organisations have been denounced by numerous countries, including the African Union, ECOWAS, EU, France, UN, and the US. However, there has been no progress in resolving claims of mistreatment by the military and pro-government militias. This complex problem necessitates swift and concerted action to restore security, safeguard human rights, and lessen humanitarian suffering in Burkina Faso.

Current Scenario

Burkina Faso is currently experiencing an acute humanitarian crisis that is characterised by severe food insecurity, malnutrition, and restricted access to essential services as of July and August 2023. Nearly 5 million people in the nation require immediate humanitarian aid, and over 800,000 of them live in 26 blockaded cities where they have little or no access to basic commodities.

Approximately 2.2 million people are currently going hungry as a result of the situation's catastrophic food crisis. Surprisingly, close to 650,000 people are on the verge of going hungry to the point where they may already be dying.

As more medical facilities close because of insecurity, Burkina Faso's health infrastructure continues to degrade. This restricts access to necessary healthcare treatments, especially those used to treat malnutrition. During the 2023 lean season, it is anticipated that 400,000 children under the age of five will experience acute malnutrition.

The crisis has also had a negative effect on education, with over 6,000 schools closing because of war and insecurity in numerous locations. Cities under siege, like Djibo, where access to necessities and services is severely restricted, are particularly in a bad situation.

The worldwide Rescue Committee (IRC) is raising awareness about the dire circumstances in Burkina Faso, requesting worldwide attention, and pleading with leaders and donors to fully support the humanitarian response plan to confront this deteriorating crisis. To avoid a 50% increase in the nation's hunger rate during the next two months, immediate action is required.

Aggravating Factors

Burkina Faso's complicated issue is exacerbated by a number of causes. Conflicts become more intense and force populations to flee as a result of competition for important mineral resources and control over trade routes. Droughts, floods, and other extreme weather conditions brought on by climate change have an adverse effect on vulnerable communities' way of life, aggravate competition for few resources, and increase water scarcity. People are more vulnerable to hardships due to high levels of poverty, inflation, and ambiguous market conditions. Networks of governance and security have been hampered by political instability brought on by the removal of long-time President Blaise Compaoré. The country has become politically vulnerable as a result of many military takeovers and tense international ties. It is urgent and hard to find a solution as a result of the interaction of these variables, which also produce a terrible security scenario.

Consequences of the Situation

The continuous conflict in Burkina Faso has had a terrible impact on the country's people in numerous ways, including on the physical, psychological, and humanitarian levels.

• Mass Displacement: More than a million individuals have been ejected forcibly from their homes, uprooting entire towns and severely disrupting their livelihoods. People who reside in rural communities that depend on farming and herding are particularly hard hit by these displacements since they lose not only their homes but also their means of subsistence.

• Scarcity of Food and Water: Because of conflict and migration, agricultural production has been hampered, which has resulted in food shortages and hunger. The food crisis in the area is exacerbated by the inability of many families to produce or harvest crops. Due to climate change and rising demand, access to potable water is also decreasing, resulting in long lines and unstable living circumstances for those living in displacement camps.

• Physical and Psychological Trauma: The struggle leaves its victims with not just physical wounds but also lasting psychological scars. Affected people's mental health suffers because of seeing violence, losing homes and possessions, and having to deal with uncertainty. Access to mental health services is frequently restricted in such settings.

• Healthcare Challenges: Access to healthcare facilities is hampered by insecurity and high transportation costs, making seeking medical care challenging. Even when patients make it to hospitals, there is still a risk because both medical staff and institutions are frequently attacked. Health facilities are damaged, ambulances are stolen, and driving is dangerous because of the presence of improvised explosive devices.

• Lack of Humanitarian Aid: The crisis is made worse by a lack of humanitarian aid, which is a result of issues like financing limitations and unrest that prevents aid workers from moving freely. Because of this, many communities lack access to basic resources including food, water, and medical care.

• Healthcare System Strain: The violence has put a strain on Burkina Faso's healthcare system, resulting in hospital closures and a lack of medical professionals. This has an impact on the care for victims of armed conflict, but it also makes it more difficult to fight endemic illnesses like malaria and respiratory infections.

• Risk to Aid Workers: Humanitarian and medical teams working in Burkina Faso run a high risk of being attacked, kidnapped, and having essential supplies like ambulances stolen. The provision of crucial services to vulnerable populations is further hampered by this insecurity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Burkina Faso is currently experiencing a crisis that is unprecedented in scope, characterised by severe human rights abuses, violent extremism, and political unrest. This complex problem has led to widespread eviction, food and water shortages, physical and mental suffering, overburdened hospital systems, and risks for humanitarian workers. To address the intricate web of circumstances that have contributed to this catastrophic situation, there is an urgent need for global attention and coordinated actions to reduce suffering and restore stability in the country.

References

• Burkina Faso. (2023). Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/worldreport/2023/country-chapters/burkina-faso

• Studies, T. a. C. F. S. (2023). Burkina Faso Crisis Continues to Spiral – Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Africa Center for Strategic Studies. https://africacenter.org/spotlight/burkina-faso-crisis-continues-to-spiral/#:~:text=Following%20two%20military%20coups%20d,unprecedented%20violence%20in%20their%20wake.

• Food security in Burkina Faso is worsening amid continued conflict, warns IRC - Burkina Faso. (2023, July 20). ReliefWeb. https://reliefweb.int/report/burkina-faso/food-security-burkina-faso-worsening-amid-continued-conflict-warns-irc

• Burkina Faso | ACAPS. (n.d.). ACAPS. https://www.acaps.org/en/countries/burkina-faso

• Four things to know about the crisis in Burkina Faso - Burkina Faso. (2022, January 28). ReliefWeb. https://reliefweb.int/report/burkina-faso/four-things-know-about-crisis-burkina-faso

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*This article was authored by Harshpreet Kaur, Student from Symbiosis Law School, Noida and reviewed by Shreya Doneriya, Student from Symbiosis Law School, Noida.