The European Union donated EUR 5 million to contribute to providing life-saving food assistance to 1.6 million people in Burkina Faso who are unable to meet their basic food needs due to conflict, the impact of climate change, and the socio-economic fallout caused by COVID-19, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Monday.
According to the WFP, the contribution, received through the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO), is helping WFP avoid an interruption in its operations to provide vital food assistance to populations affected by food insecurity in isolated or hard-to-reach areas of the country.
The agency noted that the contribution allows critical assistance to the affected people in the country beleaguered by conflict that forced many people to flee their homes.
“In 2021, WFP had to make the difficult decision to cut food rations for people who were already struggling to feed themselves and their children,” said Antoine Renard, WFP Country Director and Representative in Burkina Faso.
“With the lean season at our doorstep, this contribution from the European Union is most welcome as it will help prevent an interruption of our critical food assistance.”
The WFP noted that 2.4 million people are currently in need of a form of assistance in Burkina Faso, a figure projected to reach 3.5 million persons at the peak of the lean season between June and August.
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