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The structural impact of the two biggest displacement crises in Western and Central Africa As of October 2024, the Central Sahel (CS) and the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) regions remain the two major areas of forced displacement in the West and Central Africa region, respectively representing 38% and 25% of the overall registered displaced population. The convergence of crises, notably due to conflicts, insecurity, and climate change has led to socio-political instability and further weakened fragile socio-economic conditions; all of which continuously fuel forced displacement.
Composed of approx. 80% of women and children, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons, and refugees are particularly vulnerable. Mostly originating from rural areas, they have no other choice than abandoning their livestock and agricultural livelihoods to save their lives. From their very first displacement, forcibly displaced persons encounter difficulties to access to land, income, resources and opportunities.
Mainly heading towards (semi-)urban centers they consider still safe, forcibly displaced communities add extra pressure on essential services. The duration and complexification of displacement crises also impact host communities. Notably in the wake of the disengagement of major financial and strategic partners, hitherto involved in structural investments in the CS and LCB regions. All these factors continue to cause severe protection crises.
Data collected by the regional protection monitoring system (Project 21) from October 2023 to September 2024 in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali and Niger, among more than 30,000 host and displaced persons, show the deep impact on civilians and their continued exposure to severe protection risks. Even though data highlight the extreme vulnerability of displaced populations, the structural effects of the prolonged crises also put host communities at increased risk.