The Central Sahel region is grappling with a severe and persistent humanitarian crisis. Across Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, an estimated 7.5 million children urgently require humanitarian assistance. This critical need persists despite some reported advancements in health, education, and civil registration services.
UNICEF urges global action for Central Sahel
Following a recent 14-day assessment mission to the region, Ted Chaiban, UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director, highlighted the urgent need for greater international awareness and support, stressing that this profound crisis remains largely overlooked on the global stage.
Chaiban characterized the Central Sahel as an area where communities demonstrate remarkable resilience, yet are simultaneously enduring the long-term consequences of pervasive insecurity, severe climate change impacts, and deep socio-economic challenges.
displacement, violence, and inaccessible schools
UNICEF data reveals that over 3.6 million individuals have been forced to flee their homes due to escalating violence. Furthermore, the United Nations has documented more than 1,500 grave violations targeting children, encompassing horrific acts such as killings, abductions, and recruitment by armed factions.
The education sector has also been severely impacted by this ongoing crisis. By 2025, over 8,400 schools had become non-operational or inaccessible, effectively denying countless children their right to learn and leaving them more vulnerable to disease, psychological trauma, and overall hardship.
