Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), recently concluded a visit to Mali and Togo. He commended Mali and neighboring nations for their commitment to keeping borders open to refugees fleeing conflict and persecution in the Sahel region. However, Menikdiwela warned of a looming humanitarian crisis, stressing that the region’s needs far outweigh the available resources.
Despite Mali’s generosity in hosting over 1.1 million refugees and asylum seekers, the Sahel desperately needs aid, with nearly 4.8 million people displaced within the region. Menikdiwela praised Mali for providing refugees with rights equal to those of its citizens, including access to essential services like healthcare and education. However, she cautioned that such humane responses could become unsustainable without sustained international support.
Highlighting the strain faced by Mali and neighboring countries due to forced displacement, Menikdiwela emphasized the urgent need for additional support to avert a deepening crisis. The influx of 40,000 people from Burkina Faso in the last three months, alongside ongoing conflicts and the impacts of climate change, exacerbates the region’s challenges.
UNHCR estimates a requirement of $331.4 million in 2024 to support operations in the central Sahel region alone, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. However, as of February, only 16% of this funding has been secured, jeopardizing vital services for displaced populations.
Menikdiwela urged immediate action to ensure the safety and well-being of those displaced, particularly amid a significant increase in gender-based violence. With the Sahel crisis escalating, international aid is essential to prevent further suffering and protect the rights and dignity of those affected by displacement in the region.