Burkina Faso: Over 340.000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Have Returned to Their Localities
The various measures taken by the Transitional President Ibrahim Traoré to combat terrorism have proven effective and continue to yield positive results.The commitment and determination of the combat forces in reclaiming national territory now allow thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to gradually return to their localities.
Speaking on Friday, December 15, 2023, during the 16th session of the National Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Council (CONASUR), Nandy Somé, the minister in charge of humanitarian action, announced that 343.383 people who had fled the war had returned to their localities as of November 30. 2023.
Under the theme «What innovative strategies for sustainable resilience of returned, integrated, or resettled internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities», CONASUR brought together various stakeholders to discuss the national strategy for the recovery of IDPs and host communities for the period 2023-2027, as well as the challenges and prospects for crisis prevention and management.
The interim Resident Coordinator of the United Nations system in Burkina, Alain Akpadji, called on partners to take action, stating that only 52% of the needs are covered by available resources. The coordinator specified that they have nevertheless reached 36 difficult locations with the government’s support.
The terrorist threat faced by Burkina Faso for eight years has led to the displacement of 1.7 million people, the closure of schools, and health centers.
Since coming to power on September 30, 2022, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has prioritized the fight against terrorism. He declared a general mobilization on April 19, 2023. This mobilization has increased the number of combat forces and the acquisition of state-of-the-art combat equipment, intensifying offensives against terrorists. The multiple victories achieved by the combat forces herald a new era for the land of the upright people.
