Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso continues to face a major humanitarian crisis. As of 31 March 2023, government authorities reported that over 2 million people were internally displaced (IDPs), and the country also hosts more than 41,500 refugees – mainly from Mali – according to data updated by the Government as of 31 March 2025. According to the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance decreased from 6.3 million in 2024 to 5.9 million in 2025, reflecting a reduction of approximately 6.3%. This downward trend highlights the collective efforts of the government and its partners to provide integrated responses to forced displacement, although humanitarian needs remain high, with USD 792.6 million required to assist 3.7 million targeted individuals.

At the same time, returns of IDPs to their areas of origin have accelerated. As of 31 December 2024, authorities recorded the return of over one million individuals to their home localities. This positive development suggests a gradual improvement in the situation in certain regions, while also emphasizing the need for sustained support to ensure safe and dignified reintegration conditions. Key priorities include access to basic social services, civil documentation, and tailored protection mechanisms. UNHCR continues its efforts to promote an integrated assistance approach in return areas, working closely with the Government, local partners, and affected communities, in a spirit of transparency and community dialogue.

As part of its protection mandate and pursuit of durable solutions, UNHCR advocates for the inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless persons in national systems and programmes. It works with a wide range of partners – including national authorities, UN agencies, development actors, NGOs, and nearly 30 civil society organizations – in line with its Multi-Year Multi-Partner (MYMP) Strategy 2022–2026 and its Localization Agenda.

In addition, UNHCR plays a key role in humanitarian coordination in Burkina Faso, leading the Protection, Shelter/Core Relief Items (CRI), and Management of Temporary Hosting Sites (GSAT equivalent to the CCCM Cluster) Clusters.

Operating in a complex security, socio-economic, and environmental context, UNHCR structures its interventions around six strategic priorities:

1. Strengthening the protection framework
2. Promoting social cohesion
3. Supporting registration and civil documentation
4. Enhancing access to basic social services
5. Promoting self-reliance through the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus
6. Pursuing integrated sustainable solutions.

These actions are based on an area-based approach (ABA), strengthened partnerships, localization, and the integration of climate-related challenges, directly contributing to the implementation of government-led frameworks such as the National Recovery Strategy for IDPs and Host Communities (SNR-PDICA) and the 2023–2026 Action Plan for Stabilization and Development (PA-SD).

Additional information

For information about our work in Burkina Faso:

For information about our operation in Burkina Faso, please contact us through our Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.