Introduction
Burkina Faso's complex and volatile crisis persists, although scale of displacement has reduced and stabilised since 2024.
The dynamic of the conflict remains elevated, spreading across all regions of the country. Violent attacks are increasingly targeting civilians, including for retaliation purposes, and continue to cause population displacements. Burkina Faso is, for the second year in a row, ranking first in the Global Terrorism Index, accounting for one fifth of all terrorist deaths globally.
In addition, this Sahelian country is chronically affected by large-scale food insecurity that is aggravated by the violence, especially in the semi-arid northern parts of the territory, leading to a situation of severe malnutrition and risks of famine. Displacements, blockades and repeated attacks on villages reduced the availability of public services, especially in the sectors of health, education, and water.
In such a volatile and insecure environment, access to populations in need of humanitarian assistance is difficult and limited, especially in the areas which are not yet controlled by the State (according to the government, 70% of territory is currently under its control).
What are the needs?
Conflict affects most of the regions in Burkina Faso, especially in bordering areas in the north and east of the country, where the majority of casualties is reported, and it intensifies in western and southern regions, notably at the border with Niger, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), violence caused 7,522 fatalities in 2024, with a large share of civilians. Initial figures for the first trimester of 2025 estimate that 1,654 persons died due to the conflict.
Based on data provided in the National Humanitarian Response Plan released by the authorities and the Response Plan launched by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the number people in need of humanitarian assistance for 2025 is estimated at 5.9 million people.
The protracted conflict has thoroughly deteriorated the country’s food security situation. The latest available data from the World Food Programme (WFP) indicate that, at the national level, food security has overall improved compared with 2023 due to better agricultural production and sustained food assistance. Yet, 27% of the population remains moderately food insecure, and 4% severely food insecure, with the latter category reaching higher rates in unstable, conflict-affected areas. FEWS NET estimates that between 1.5 to 2 million persons will require food assistance during the February–May 2025 period.
Consolidated population displacement figures have not been updated since March 2023, when it was estimated that 2.1 million people, about 9% of the Burkinabe population, were internally displaced due to violence. In December 2024, the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs estimated that 640,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) had returned to their place of origin during 2024, bringing the total number of returnees to approximately 1 million since March 2023. According to the Rapid Response Cluster Coordination Platform (GCORR), the number of newly displaced persons totalled 379,307 in 2024, a significant diminution compared with 2023 (735,000) and 2022 (699,000). As of mid-April 2025, 92,000 new IDPs have been registered this year. The scale of displacement, although diminishing, remains significant. Emergency response continues to be necessary for communities fleeing new shocks; however, a more durable and autonomising response needs to be developed for the remaining IDP caseload.
The persistence of violence affects people’s basic needs and income opportunities. Access to fields and markets is challenging, and families cannot always meet their needs. In urban centres where some stability and security prevail, a large-scale and sustained presence of displaced persons is increasingly putting pressure on the capacities of the hosting communities, the public services and infrastructures.
The authorities impose restrictive measures in the context of the ongoing conflict. The humanitarian response is notably severely restrained due to the nation-wide ban on assistance using cash transfers.
Humanitarian access to those in need remains challenging. Movements, especially on secondary axes, are constrained due to risks of attacks or when operations of security forces are taking place. The increasing use of explosive devices renders the delivery of aid more dangerous as well. For larger convoys, on sensitive roads, risks of attacks are significant, and use of armed escorts is mandatory, undermining the delivery of assistance to an estimated 1.1 million people in the 29 locations under blockade.
The conflict severely impacts educational and health facilities. In December 2024, OCHA reported that over 5,000 schools were closed as a consequence of the violence, impacting over 800,000 children, the majority obliged to adapt their scholarships in new areas of displacement. According to the health cluster (September 2024), 424 health facilities are closed due to instability (about 15 were impacted by attacks last year). This means that more than 4 million people must seek alternatives for healthcare elsewhere. The situation is particularly worrying in regions that are not yet controlled by the authorities and where delivery of aid is extremely limited.
How are we helping?
In 2025, the EU has allocated an initial €25.9 million in humanitarian assistance to support the most vulnerable in the country. An additional allocation of about €7 million was also contributed this year specifically for humanitarian air flight operations.
In 2024, the EU allocated €45 million.
These funds support actions on (i) food insecurity and malnutrition, (ii) protection, (iii) health, (iv) nutrition, (v) shelter, (vi) water, sanitation and hygiene, (vii) education, (viii) disaster preparedness activities, and (ix) a rapid response to displacements.
EU humanitarian aid focuses on supporting vulnerable internally displaced people and host populations affected by the ongoing armed conflict. In the context of fast-growing crises and funding shortages on a global level, particular attention is paid to life-saving actions and rapid response to the basic needs of newly displaced individuals and people living in localities under blockade.
Supporting the operations to enable partners to operate in a complex environment is also key in this context, the EU notably supports humanitarian air operations. Together with the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), the EU has been providing last-mile access to remote regions and areas under blockade which can be reached exclusively by air. Since 2022, we have been operating an EU-funded EU Humanitarian Air Flight (EU HAF) helicopter at the service of the entire humanitarian community and EU partners, carrying up to 800 passengers per month, in addition to cargo.
We also contribute to building the capacity of local organisations to prepare for, and respond to, emergencies.
Uprooted Burkinabe people and host communities receive food assistance, shelter, and essential items. Our priority is also to improve access to healthcare and mental health support to help people overcome trauma or other protection issues due to conflict.
EU support provides education in an environment where schools have been closed, and teachers and students face threats from armed groups. Protection is mainstreamed in all funded actions.
EU humanitarian aid funds the delivery of emergency food assistance to the most vulnerable in the most affected areas and to the most vulnerable in the areas under blockade during the lean season – the crucial period of the year between harvests, normally running from June to September, when food reserves are depleted. At the same time, the assistance provides free nutritional care for malnourished children under 5 years old.
We are also supporting actions on disaster risk reduction. Ongoing programmes include increasing communities’ preparedness to face health risks and strengthening the national response system to prevent and manage food and nutrition crises.
To reinforce people's ability to cope with crises, the EU links its humanitarian emergency assistance with its longer-term development cooperation.
Last updated: 04/06/2025
Facts & figures
More than 2.7 million people are estimated to need emergency food assistance during the 2024 lean season. (Cadre Harmonisé, March 2024)
More than 2 million people are internally displaced. (CONASUR, March 2023)
The country hosts over 41,000 refugees, mainly from Mali. (UNHCR, March 2025)
EU humanitarian funding:
€25.9 million in 2025 (plus an estimated €7 million for the EU Humanitarian Aid Flights)
€45 million allocated in 2024
€311.35 million since 2014