Burkina Faso: thousands of Malian refugees seek shelter

13-04-2012 Photo gallery

They have fled fighting in Mali and have travelled far to seek refuge in the north of Burkina Faso. Thousands of Malian refugees are living in the provinces of Oudalan and Soum, under difficult conditions. Hundreds more arrive every week.

- Férério, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. A newly-arrived Malian family chooses a location to place their belongings and build a shelter. Their next task will be to find food, water and a place to get medical treatment.
  © ICRC / C. Bosson / v-p-bf-e-00030
Men, women and children are all in need of shelter, water, health care and a reliable source of food.
Between the end of March and the beginning of April 2012, the Burkinabé Red Cross Society, with the support of the ICRC, has distributed essential household items to over 18,000 refugees in five villages in Oudalan.
The ICRC and the Burkinabé Red Cross Society are continuing to monitor the situation in order to adapt their response.
- Gandafabou, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. A typical shelter built by a family newly arrived from Mali.
  © ICRC / C. Bosson / v-p-bf-e-00021
The average family has more than six children.
- Férério, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. Burkinabé Red Cross Society volunteers and ICRC staff register refugees prior to distributing aid.
  © ICRC / C. Bosson / v-p-bf-e-00029
- Férério, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. A Burkinabé Red Cross Society volunteer working with the ICRC records the details of a Malian refugee family.
  © ICRC / C. Bosson / v-p-bf-e-00020
These refugees had to leave most of their possessions behind when they fled. After a difficult journey under harsh conditions, they are in urgent need of assistance.
- Gandafabou, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. With the assistance of the ICRC, the Burkinabé Red Cross Society distributes blankets, plastic sheeting, cooking utensils, soap and buckets to over 2,400 Malian refugees in the village of Gandafabou.
  © ICRC / C. Bosson / v-p-bf-e-00034
- Gandafabou, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. Malian refugees receive blankets, plastic sheeting and other essential supplies from the Burkinabé Red Cross Society and the ICRC.
  © ICRC / C. Bosson
- Férério, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. Malian refugee children leave a distribution site.
  © ICRC / C. Bosson / v-p-bf-e-00035
In all, over 6,500 Malians in the village of Férério received essential household items from the Burkinabé Red Cross Society and the ICRC. The average family has more than six children.
- Dibissi, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. The Burkinabé Red Cross Society, supported by the ICRC, prepares to distribute blankets, plastic sheeting, kitchen utensils, soap and buckets to over 1,500 Malian refugees.
  © ICRC / C. Bosson / v-p-bf-e-00036
- Gandafabou, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. Neat rows of buckets await distribution to over 2,400 Malian refugees.
  © ICRC / C. Bosson / v-p-bf-e-00031
- Gorum-Gorum, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. Staff unload trucks that have just arrived from Côte d'Ivoire loaded with essential household items for Malian refugees in northern Burkina Faso.
  © ICRC / C. Bosson / v-p-bf-e-00027
- Between Gorum Gorum and Gandafabou, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. The roads are difficult, and it is easy to get stuck in the sand!
  © ICRC / C. Bosson
- Dibissi, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. Malian refugees shelter under an improvised canopy.
  © ICRC / C. Bosson / v-p-bf-e-00024
This family arrived in Dibissi after fleeing the fighting in Mali. They have put up an improvised shelter to protect themselves from the sun. As time goes on, they will improve it using whatever materials are available.
- Gountouré Gnegne, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. Over 3,000 people have fled to Gountouré Gnegné in northern Burkina Faso, seeking refuge from the violence in Mali.
  © ICRC / C. Bosson / v-p-bf-e-00037
- Gountouré Gnegne, Oudalan Province, Burkina Faso. This girl from Mali has just arrived, after fleeing the fighting in her native country.
  © ICRC / C. Bosson

Burkina Faso: thousands of Malian refugees seek shelter

13-04-2012 Photo gallery

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