HIGHLIGHTS
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74,617 girls and boys treated for severe acute malnutrition and/or received micronutrient powders to improve the nutrient density of their complementary diet.
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241,753 women and children provided with healthcare services in the regions most affected by the crisis, and 55,111 children aged 6 months to 14 years old were vaccinated against measles.
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172,960 people provided with access to safe drinking water and safe sanitation through the construction of emergency latrines while 259,200 people reached with key hygiene messages and provided with WASH, dignity and menstrual hygiene management kits.
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210 unaccompanied and separated children benefited from appropriate alternative care, including 124 children reunified with their families and nine children formerly associated with armed groups and other vulnerable children benefiting from reintegration programs.
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75,312 girls and boys, including displaced and host children, accessed education through UNICEF supported programmes and 7,699 children received individual learning material while 433,260 children indirectly reached through broadcasting.
SITUATION OVERVIEW AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
The humanitarian situation in Burkina Faso remains complex and extremely fragile. From January to June 2023, there was a reduction in security incidents linked to armed conflict in Burkina Faso compared with the same period last year. However, there was an increase in the level of impact in terms of human casualties and the internal displacement of civilians. At least 854 incidents were reported with some 2,548 victims, including 18 children, compared to 957 security incidents with 1,852 victims reported during the same period in 2022. The number of besieged areas and main roads has also increased.
The humanitarian situation exacerbated by the ongoing conflict, continues to negatively affect children’s rights and welfare, thus increasing their vulnerability. UNICEF continues to deliver its programmes in various locations despite the volatility of the security context. As of 31 May, 2,062,534 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were registered. Since the beginning of the year, the health situation in areas affected by the humanitarian crisis has further deteriorated, with an increase in the number of health facilities closed (365) with 3,475,431 people without healthcare at the end of May 2023. The reduction in healthcare services at all levels of the health pyramid remains a concern, especially in landlocked areas where referrals and medical evacuations have become increasingly difficult due to insecurity. Persistent displacement of populations continues to cause family separation of several children. As of 31 May, 6,149 schools are closed in Burkina Faso due to the ongoing attacks, affecting over a million children (49 per cent girls) and 31,000 teachers (32 per cent women). The number of hard-to-reach areas has more than doubled over the past year, which has significantly delayed the implementation of some WASH construction works for IDPs and host communities. The country's hydrological context also poses additional difficulties, with negative boreholes being recorded more frequently, making access to water more challenging.