With more than 2 millions of internally displaced persons recorded in March 2023, including nearly 497,000 in the Sahel region and more than 486,000 in the Centre-Nord region (CONASUR, 2023), the security crisis in Burkina Faso has been causing massive population movements.
This situation has been exacerbating the pressure on essential services, particularly access to water, hygiene and sanitation, especially in severely affected areas of the Sahel region such as Seytenga.
In response to this humanitarian emergency, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) launched the Multisectoral Emergency Response to Conflict-Affected Populations in Burkina Faso project, supported by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, with the aim of providing immediate support to internally displaced people. DRC's interventions in Seytenga have provided safe shelters, improved access to drinking water and met hygiene needs, helping to alleviate the situation of thousands of vulnerable people.
These important actions have played a crucial role in improving the living conditions of displaced people, who have been able to benefit from dignified and appropriate solutions despite the challenges imposed by the security crisis.
In a region where conflicts have forced entire families to flee their homes, the issue of housing is becoming a crucial priority, as it provides support for these families in their search for stability.During the project, DRC built 200 shelters for 1,026 people, including 486 men and 540 women from 146 households.
We were chased out of Mira by non-state armed groups. They came to our village and told us to leave. They destroyed our property and our provisions. Forced to leave, we've been in Seytenga for 5 months. When we arrived in Seytenga, the first problem we had was accommodation. At first we slept in the open air, then in makeshift shelters. With those shelters, some of us slept inside while the others slept outside because of the tiny space. Thanks to DRC, we now have a good-quality shelter where all our family can sleep inside. Moreover, we sleep confidently when it’s raining or winding.
Hamidou, Internally displaced person
To respond to the emergency in terms of access to drinking water, DRC has set up several initiatives.
For three months, the organization has provided emergency water distribution, giving 2,372 people access to the drinking water they needed to survive.
At the same time, two human-powered pumps (HMP) were rehabilitated, providing drinking water to 993 more people. Despite these efforts, pressure on water resources remained high, prompting DRC to convert one HMP into a stand-alone water station.
This sustainable solution gave 2,000 people access to a more reliable and continuous water supply, helping to alleviate the water crisis in the locality.
When we first arrived here, we had to wait a long time for water. Since the installation of this new pump, access to water is much quicker. Thanks to this pump, we can access water any time we need. Today, for example, I didn't have to wait to fetch water. Thanks to this installation, we have fewer water problems.
HADJATOU, Internally displaced person
Through the project, 15,498 people, most of them women, have been reached. These awareness-raising initiatives aim to educate communities about good hygiene practices to prevent water- and sanitation-related diseases.
In addition to these awareness-raising campaigns, 21 community latrine-shower blocks have been built, including 11 blocks reserved for women and 10 for men, for a total of 2,100 beneficiaries.
These facilities provide a safer and cleaner environment, particularly for women, who are often vulnerable in emergency situations.
To help families meet their basic needs, the project distributed 754 hygiene kits and essential household items (EHI)to 4,052 people.
Particular attention was paid to the specific needs of women and girls, with the distribution of 666 menstrual hygiene management kits. These kits were distributed to girls and women aged between 12 and 48.
Through these multiple interventions, DRC's Multisectoral Emergency Response to Conflict-Affected Populations in Burkina Faso project has succeeded in significantly improving living conditions in Seytenga area. From access to shelter and drinking water to hygiene and sanitation, the project's actions have provided a concrete and sustainable response to the needs of the IDPs.
For DRC, these achievements reflect a strong commitment to supporting communities in distress and fostering their resilience in the face of humanitarian crises.
