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In an alert, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said that previous attacks in recent weeks along Burkina Faso\u2019s border with Niger had already led to a \u201csurge\u201d of displaced people into the Nigerien city of T\u00e9ra, Tillab\u00e9ri region, despite the \u201calready dire\u201d humanitarian situation there.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmid a worrying security situation in Tillab\u00e9ri, characterized by attacks from non-State armed groups, the asylum seekers can face further suspicions of being affiliated with these groups<\/strong> and risk being forcibly returned if their status as refugees is not recognized by the Government,\u201d UNHCR said.<\/p>\n The development follows years of insecurity in Burkina Faso where more than a third of the country operates outside the control of the country\u2019s military, which seized power in 2022.<\/p>\n More widely, the stability of the Sahel region has been threatened for years by a proliferation of armed groups. Beginning in northern Mali, jihadist-linked insurgents pushed south, bringing lawlessness to northern Burkina Faso and western Niger, while also threatening the stability of other neighbouring countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to UNHCR, Tillab\u00e9ri is now home to at least 223,400 internally displaced people from Niger and at least 36,500 Burkinab\u00e9 asylum seekers.<\/p>\n In addition to the latest arrivals from Burkina Faso, an additional 1,186 Nigerien nationals have also been displaced within Tillab\u00e9ri, the UN agency noted.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the last week of May and the first week of June 2024, non-State armed groups launched attacks targeting civilians in the Mansila, Kantcari and Sempelga communes of Burkina Faso’s Sahel Region,\u201d UNHCR said in a\u00a0statement.<\/p>\n \u201cThis surge in violence has forced 3,068 Burkinab\u00e9 asylum seekers to flee to T\u00e9ra in Niger’s Tillab\u00e9ri region by 30 June\u2026severely straining local resources and the resilience of host communities<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n Pointing to the \u201chighly volatile\u201d security situation along the Niger-Burkina Faso border, the UN agency noted that continuing attacks and clashes between State and non-State actors \u201care not only displacing more people but also complicating humanitarian access and protection efforts\u201d.<\/p>\n As part of its relief efforts, UNHCR has been working with local authorities and partners to pre-register 470 households (3,068 individuals) for asylum and provide cash assistance to meet immediate needs.<\/p>\n The UN agency said that more than 400 vulnerable individuals had also been identified for rapid assistance, including 207 female heads of households, breastfeeding and pregnant women, and children with mental health issues or suffering from malnourishment.<\/p>\nTillab\u00e9ri shelter<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Persistent insecurity<\/strong><\/h2>\n