Introduction

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to the stability of populations, peoples, and communities worldwide. This threat extends to present and future generations, disproportionately affecting vulnerable individuals, groups, and people.

The Case of Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso ranks among the nations most exposed to the consequences of climate change, due to drought caused by lack of rainfall and its uneven distribution, floods resulting from exceptional heavy rainfall, periods of intense heat, and episodes of heavy dust. Examples include the great drought of the 1970s and 1980s and the floods of 1 September 2009, which left 46 people dead, one missing, 63 injured, 195,170 affected, and 42,000 homes destroyed, according to figures from the newspaper lefaso.net.

The Vulnerability of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, caused by multiple terrorist attacks that have forced people to flee to safer areas. According to figures released by the National Council for Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation on the 31st of October 2022, there are 1,761,915 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country, equivalent to 261,925 displaced households.

IDPs have neither the means nor the logistics to cope with the effects of climate disruption. They are therefore the most vulnerable, and this leads to shortcomings in the full enjoyment of all their fundamental rights. In the north of the country, in Youba, Kongoussi, and Ouahigouya to be precise, as in several IDP areas, temporary housing is being washed away by torrential rains caused by the vagaries of the weather. The lack of logistics, particularly latrines, forces IDPs to defecate in the open air, which can lead to water pollution, the destruction of the ecosystem, and a deterioration in environmental hygiene.

Conclusion

In Burkina Faso, climate change is having a considerable impact on internally displaced persons. It is vitally important that the national authorities and the international community redouble their efforts to mitigate the consequences of climate disruption. This means providing adequate support to internally displaced persons by implementing preventive and adaptive measures to strengthen their resilience.

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