United States sends $150 million package to the Sahel

A package of more than $150 million, some ?129 million, will be allocated by the US Government in humanitarian aid to Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and Niger to address the situation caused by the increasing violence and economic crisis in these Sahelian countries.

The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has detailed that the Office of Population, Refugees and Migration will provide 67 million dollars, while the Office for Humanitarian Assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide 85 million dollars.

"Our assistance will provide protection, livelihoods, shelter, basic health care, emergency food assistance, clean water, and sanitation facilities and services to refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as to vulnerable host communities," the Secretary of State said.

He also noted that "significant gaps in addressing humanitarian needs, in addition to environmental concerns such as major flooding in the region, have been exacerbated during the coronavirus pandemic". 

The Sahel is going through one of its most difficult times. The violence caused by jihadist groups and mafias in this border area between several countries is increasing steadily. The Jihadist groups have taken advantage of the instability and inequality caused by this crisis to transform their dynamics of action and increase their influence. According to the latest report of the International Observatory for the Study of Terrorism, "the Sahel region has established itself as one of the main centres of terrorism at the global level". Furthermore, the coronavirus has created the perfect scenario for armed groups to gain power and increase their influence in the region.

Furthermore, Pompeo announced that Washington will deliver some $108 million in humanitarian aid to the Sudanese population, both in the African country and to 2.2 million refugees in neighbouring states. 

"Heavy rains, fighting between armed groups, food insecurity, a deteriorating economic situation and the coronavirus pandemic have worsened an already severe humanitarian crisis in Southern Sudan," Pompeo said, according to a statement released by the State Department.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said it is stepping up its efforts to help displaced people in the Sahel, including more than 700,000 affected by recent flooding.

"Thousands more are in urgent need of shelter, clean water and health care in large areas of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger," according to UNHCR. The head of UNHCR's regional office for West and Central Africa, Millicent Mutuli, expressed concern that "refugees, IDPs and their host communities were already on the edge and needed our urgent assistance.

Of all the countries that are part of the Sahel, Niger has been the most affected, with more than 70 deaths and 350,000 people affected by the floods. The rains have also affected six camps for internally displaced persons, leaving more than 9,000 refugees and displaced persons in urgent need of shelter.
Burkina Faso has been another affected country, leaving 41 dead and 12,378 families homeless. UNHCR has therefore urged governments in the region to include refugees, IDPs and their host communities in the response to the floods and their aftermath.