“We lack everything”: Burkina Faso’s internally displaced families call for more aid in Sahel region
SOS Children's Villages, alongside the government of Burkina Faso and other non-governmental organizations, is putting in place an emergency response in the country’s north central region to assist internally displaced families.
Hamidou, 14, the eldest of Absétou's children, was enrolled in a Temporary Learning Space (TLS) set up by SOS Children Villages, and was therefore able to continue his education after fleeing. "I have made new friends at school [i.e., the TLS] and I was among the best in the class last year. I like math and science and I would like to become a doctor. I would like to have new books and a new bike so that I can get to school on time," says Hamidou.
SOS Children’s Villages has been leading emergency interventions in Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad through the establishment of Child Friendly Spaces and Temporary Learning Spaces to provide psychosocial care and support, educational and recreational activities and protection for children and their families.
Building community awareness to reduce crisis and their impact is also at the centre of the emergency response. Through trainings and sensitization, communities are skilled to better cope with the situation, prevent violence against children, and build social cohesion.
Despite the efforts made and the aid received by families like Absétou’s, more financial resources need to be mobilized to secure a home and a future to the millions of internally displaced people in Burkina Faso and the Sahel region. "Here [in Kaya], we lack everything. We have problems with water and food. My husband doesn't work anymore, and neither do I. We have three children to provide for and the help we receive is insufficient. Life is becoming more and more difficult," Absétou says.
According to the United Nations, $2 billion will be needed for the humanitarian response in the Sahel region in 2022. If the necessary financial resources are not mobilized within a short time, Sahel’s forgotten crisis will be destined to worsen and the lives and future of 3.6 million children will be at stake.
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Canadians wishing to support SOS Children's Villages emergency response programs are encouraged to Donate to SOS MAYDAY.