West and Central Africa: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (09-15 May 2023)

Burkina Faso

The number of IDPs surpasses two million

According to the National Council for Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation (CONASUR), 2,062,534 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were registered on March 31, 2023, representing a 3.17% increase since February 28, 2023. The Sahel and the Centre-Nord regions alone host nearly 50% of the IDPs (995,915 people). Food security is the most urgent need according to IDP households (90%), followed by shelter (49%) and cash (40%).

Democratic Republic of Congo

Inter-agency mission in Rutshuru after over six months of restricted access

On May 9, an OCHA-led interagency mission consisting of seven UN agencies and five international and national NGOs left Goma for Rutshuru after months of limited access due to the growing insecurity. The mission will conduct a multi-sector needs assessment in several villages in Rutshuru and Rwanguba health zones, where more than 90,000 displaced people have returned since October 2022. It will also deliver an emergency response in terms of medical and nutritional supplies. The assessment comes hours after the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator and OCHA DRC Deputy head of Office concluded an access mission in the area. They met with military and local actors to discuss humanitarian access and how humanitarian operations can be strengthened. The ongoing needs assessment mission is planned to end on May 16.

Central African Republic

Killings and population movements in Bedaka, Bégouladjé and Bemassara

On 9 May, following an attack on the village of Don in Chad, some 20 people were killed and 1,000 were forced to move cross the border to CAR, in Bedaka, Bégouladjé and Bemassara. A day later, 100 people preventively moved from Bedoua, Bedam and Bendouba in the same region into CAR.
The IDPs found refuge with host families.
Faced with the recurrence of such incidents in this border region, Chadian and CAR authorities met on 9 and 10 May to discuss, among others, the possibility of joint patrols along the two borders and the return of stolen civilian property. These incidents occur near the end of the transhumance between March and May, when moving cattle damage farmers' crops.

SUDAN Crisis: CAR & Chad

Violence escalates in Sudan causing displacement into Chad and CAR

In Sudan, fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15, 2023, resulting in significant population movements within the country and across borders. This change in the context is particularly concerning, given that neighbouring Central African Republic and Chad are already among the world's most vulnerable countries, and facing a humanitarian crisis, economic difficulties, and ongoing insecurity. The influx of displaced people into these already fragile contexts risks having dramatic consequences for both host communities and displaced populations, especially since the region is entering the lean season and floods during the rainy season could occur.
Chad has received more than 66,000 refugees, while CAR has received more than 6,000.