Mali: Dire conditions for Burkinabe refugees in central Mali amid lean season

 

As the lean season intensifies across Mali, the situation for thousands of people who have fled ongoing violence in Burkina Faso to find refuge in central Mali is becoming untenable, warns the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

Since January 2024, over 20,000 Burkinabè refugees have been registered in the Koro cercle alone, with many more still awaiting registration according to a joint assessment conducted by NRC and other partners.  

The influx of refugees continues unabated, placing immense pressure on the already limited resources of local communities that are already hosting large numbers of internally displaced people.  

“Burkinabè refugees are facing a double burden of displacement and food insecurity during this critical period,” said Maclean Natugasha, NRC’s country director in Mali. 

“The lean season is the most difficult time of the year for families to survive, and the situation is alarming for thousands of refugees in central Mali. The international community must act now to prevent further suffering.” 

In Koro, local leaders have demonstrated remarkable generosity by offering refugees arable land, yet many refugees have been unable to cultivate due to lack of resources. This has left them dependent on humanitarian assistance, which remains insufficient given the scale of the crisis. Many displaced families also remain homeless or are living in overcrowded conditions with host families who themselves are vulnerable. 

Lack of funding, combined with challenges linked to registering and assisting refugees in remote and hard-to-reach locations, continue to hinder the humanitarian response. 

“We fled our homes in Nodin village in northern Burkina Faso with nothing, and now we struggle to find even the most basic necessities here in Mali. We hope that those who can help do not forget us,” Hamidou, a refugee from Burkina Faso living in Koro, told NRC.  

“These refugees have endured unimaginable hardship, and their resilience is inspiring. But resilience alone cannot sustain them through the lean season. The international community must step up its efforts to provide food, shelter, and essential services to both the refugees and the host communities that have shown such generosity,” said Natugasha. 

Facts and figures 

Since the end of October 2023, there has been a large influx of refugees and asylum seekers from Burkina Faso, mainly from the north part of the country. (OCHA)

About 20,000 Burkinabe refugees have been registered in Koro area alone since the beginning of 2024 (NRC) 

As of July 15 2024, more than 180,000 Burkinabe refugees (61,490 registered and 72,450 unregistered) live in Mali. (OCHA) 

Mali was the 4th most neglected displacement crisis in the world in 2023, according to NRC’s neglected displacement crises list (NRC) 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Norwegian Refugee Council.