The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm that no fewer than 7.5 million children across the Central Sahel region of Africa require urgent humanitarian assistance, describing the crisis as one that has not received adequate global attention.
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Ted Chaiban, made this known in a statement following a 14-day visit to Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
Chaiban said he witnessed a region “rich in possibilities” but severely impacted by insecurity, climate shocks, and socio-economic challenges. He noted that recent violence in Mali underscores the fragile conditions facing children, including the loss of lives.
The statement comes amid reports of coordinated attacks by armed groups in Mali, which have been condemned by the United Nations. The UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, stressed the need to prioritise humanitarian response, civilian protection, and access to essential services.
According to Chaiban, over 3.6 million people have been displaced across the Central Sahel due to violence and forced migration. Despite this, he observed signs of resilience, including the reopening of rural markets and continued community support systems.
He said engagements with political leaders in the three countries revealed a shared commitment to investing in human capital and strengthening social cohesion, with a growing focus on prioritising children in national policies.
Chaiban highlighted progress in key sectors across the region. In Niger, reforms have improved civil registration systems, increasing birth registration rates to 79 per cent in 2024 from 62 per cent in 2023.
In Burkina Faso, about 25 per cent of the national budget has been allocated to education and nearly 12 per cent to health. In Mali, national immunisation coverage reached 82 per cent in 2024.
He noted that while these efforts are commendable, the situation for children remains dire. The UN has recorded more than 1,500 grave violations against children, including killings, abductions, and recruitment by armed groups. Additionally, over 8,400 schools were inaccessible in 2025 alone.
Chaiban warned that limited access to education and essential services exposes children to disease, trauma, and stunted development.
He said stakeholders across the region share common priorities, including protecting children, restoring peace, improving access to healthcare and education, and enabling displaced families to return home safely.
The UNICEF official also commended field teams working across the Sahel for supporting governments in health, water, education, and child protection programmes, noting that strengthening local systems and community resilience remains key to effective intervention.
He, however, urged the international community to step up support and not overlook the crisis.
“Faced with the resilience of children in the Sahel, the world must not turn a blind eye. Millions still require urgent humanitarian assistance,” Chaiban said.
He cautioned that children’s resilience should not be mistaken for well-being or used as justification for inaction.
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