SAHEL, 23 January, 2021 (TON): United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Friday called for an end to the unrelenting violence in Africa’s Sahel which has now displaced more than two million people within the borders of their countries for the first time ever.

The area includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Niger which has been afflicted with the armed insurgent groups and other criminal gangs since 2012.

In the past year, already the violence in Niger and Burkina Faso has forced more than 21,000 people to migrate and leave their homes to seek refuge within their native countries. More than 11,000 people have been displaced as a result of armed attacks in Burkina Faso since December 31, 2020.

According to UN, Sahel has been going through high rates of poverty, insufficient food, insecurity, climatic changes and the diseases.

Many internally displaced people do not even have basic shelter and sleep in the open air because of inappropriate arrangements by the hosts.

The UNHCR has urged the international community to redouble its support for the region.

Across the region, UNHCR and its partners are working to provide critical assistance to hundreds of thousands of displaced people and their hosts, such as shelter, aid items, and cash.

Since 2013, France has been present in the region. It has currently 5,100 stationed troops however, examining this level of commitment.

Meanwhile, the African Development Bank, it would mobilize $6.5 Billion to support efforts by countries in the Sahel.

Launched in 2007 by the African Union, the Great Green Wall is a concerted attempt to roll back the Sahara desert. It helps the communities in the Sahel and Sahara regions to alleviate and adapt to climate change but also to improve food security.