Millions of people in the central Sahel suffer from climate change and armed conflict

In Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, 16 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, says the US NGO International Rescue Committee (IRC). An unprecedented figure, up 172% compared to 2016, which is explained by the combined effects of armed conflict and climate change.

In south-western Niger, cattle rustling and kidnapping by armed bandit groups continue to increase. In this photo, a Peuhl nomad and his son with their herd, near Maradi in Niger, on their way to Nigeria, in July 2019. © AFP - LUIS TATO - FAO

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Between them, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger represent less than 1% of the world's population, but 5% of its humanitarian needs, according to the report of the American NGO International Rescue Committee published Tuesday, June 6. More than five million people are food insecure in the three countries of the Central Sahel and nearly three million people are displaced, a figure that has risen sharply since 2014.

The American NGO sees this as a consequence of the combined effect of attacks by jihadist groups that these countries have been suffering for several years and climate change. Temperatures are rising one and a half times faster than in the rest of the world, while 78% of the population depends on agriculture.

>> Read also: [2] Special broadcast: Sahel, the consequences of global warming

Communities in parts of the central Sahel are therefore on the frontlines of both crises.

For the IRC, this is not a coincidence, but the result of a series of political decisions. The lack of investment in these regions makes people more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. And this fragility creates a fertile ground for armed groups. A vicious circle that the NGO calls to break.

How? Before answering them, IRC Regional Vice-President for West Africa, Modou Diao, discusses the process that has led, over time, to marginalize the regions that are now most affected.

The feeling of discrimination is felt in these areas and since many young people do not have jobs, they may be more inclined to be mobilized into armed groups. We propose a response at three levels: to meet the humanitarian needs of populations [...], to try to break the vicious circle by setting up structural projects by helping to improve access to resources [...], to propose financing for projects to adapt to global warming and that the financing that is oriented towards climate change is not limited only to the reduction of greenhouse gases because we know that these areas affected by conflict-affected countries have only a minimal contribution to climate change [...]

Modou Diao: Rural areas have been marginalized since colonial times and have been less prepared for climate change

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Read on on the same topics:

• Mali
• Burkina Faso
• Niger
• Climate change
• Environment