The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and Caritas initiated a joint humanitarian program this Thursday to support about 6,800 internally displaced people in Burkina Faso who have fled violence. The collaboration marks a focused effort to provide rapid relief to communities living under ongoing stress due to conflict and insecurity.
According to AECID, the aid package is valued at 229,161.20 euros. This funding, channeled through Caritas, targets an African nation grappling with a humanitarian emergency shaped by conflict, disrupted basic services, food insecurity, the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and rising food prices that compound the vulnerability of the population.
Caritas notes that nearly 40 percent of Burkina Faso’s people have seen disruptions to essential services or closures of key social systems. The organization emphasizes that reduced government support and services have left more than 7 percent of residents with no choice but to leave their homes in search of safety since the conflict began in 2019.
Burkina Faso continues to face a volatile security environment, marked by periodic clashes among armed groups, attacks on civilians, and the destruction of public infrastructure. These factors have driven a sizable wave of displacement, straining families and local communities alike.
From January 2019 to February 2022, the number of internally displaced people rose dramatically, reaching over 1.8 million. In April of this year, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that more than 1.9 million people were registered as displaced, reflecting a rise of nearly 2.8 percent from March.
With funding from Spanish humanitarian action, the response will deliver cash assistance to a total of 980 internally displaced families and vulnerable residents in Ouahigouya in the North, Dori in the Sahel, and Ouagadougou in the Center region. The approach prioritizes quick, flexible support that can meet urgent needs despite the unstable environment.
In aggregate terms, about 6,860 beneficiaries will receive aid over a three-month period, with roughly 55 percent women and 45 percent men. The operation will provide three rounds of cash payments, each amounting to 47,500 CFA francs per household, translating to about 72.41 euros. By the conclusion of the project, households will have received a total of 142,500 CFA francs, around 217.2 euros, as determined by Burkina Faso’s Food Security cluster guidelines.
AECID notes that this cash delivery initiative complements other Caritas programs across the country that support displaced families, typically consisting of seven members per household on average. The program targets the most vulnerable groups, including children under five, pregnant and nursing women, people with disabilities, the elderly, widows, orphans, and heads of household.
Given the fluid security situation and the mobility of displaced families, cash transfers are viewed as the most effective form of support. This method provides direct, immediate relief while allowing families to prioritize their own needs in uncertain times.
The collaboration demonstrates how international humanitarian partners can coordinate to deliver timely assistance, stabilize households, and reinforce local resilience. It also underscores the ongoing commitment of European and international actors to Burkinabe communities affected by violence, insecurity, and systemic social service gaps.