Conflict, displacement, and climate shocks are pushing millions of children across Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso into severe humanitarian distress, with access to education and basic services rapidly deteriorating.

By Ifeoma Onyekachi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over a worsening humanitarian crisis in Africa’s Central Sahel, revealing that at least 7.5 million children urgently require assistance.

The warning was issued by Ted Chaiban following a two-week assessment visit to Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.

Chaiban described the region as one of “immense potential overshadowed by persistent insecurity, climate shocks, and socio-economic instability,” noting that the crisis remains largely underreported globally.

Recent coordinated attacks in Mali condemned by António Guterres underscore the fragile security situation, which continues to expose children to grave risks, including death, abduction, and recruitment by armed groups.

According to UNICEF, more than 3.6 million people have been displaced across the region, while over 1,500 grave violations against children have been documented. In 2025 alone, more than 8,400 schools were forced to shut down or became inaccessible due to insecurity.

Despite the bleak outlook, Chaiban noted signs of resilience among affected communities. In some rural areas, markets are gradually reopening, and families are striving to rebuild their livelihoods, while children continue to seek a sense of normalcy.

He also highlighted policy gains across the region. In Niger, birth registration coverage rose to 79 per cent in 2024, up from 62 per cent the previous year. Burkina Faso has committed about 25 per cent of its national budget to education and nearly 12 per cent to healthcare, while Mali’s immunisation coverage reached 82 per cent.

“These efforts are meaningful, but they are not enough to offset the scale of the crisis,” Chaiban said, stressing that lack of access to education, healthcare, and protection services continues to endanger children’s development and well-being.

He called on the international community to step up support, warning against complacency.

“The resilience of children in the Sahel must not be mistaken for recovery,” he said. “Millions still face urgent needs that demand immediate and sustained global action.”