UNICEF Official Warns of Humanitarian Needs for 7.5 Million Children in Central Sahel

Nearly 7.5 million children in the Central Sahel region of Africa, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, according to a senior official with the UN child rights agency UNICEF. The official issued the statement after a 14-day visit to the three countries, describing the area as affected by insecurity, climate shocks, and socio-economic crises.

Recent reports of violence in Mali included coordinated attacks by rebel groups over the weekend, which the UN Secretary-General condemned. The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator stated on Twitter that responding to humanitarian needs, protecting civilians, and ensuring access to basic services is essential.

More than 3.6 million people in the Central Sahel have been displaced due to violence, according to the UNICEF official.

In Niger, government-led reforms have modernized civil registration in more than half of all municipalities, resulting in birth registration rates rising to 79 percent last year from 62 percent in 2023. In Burkina Faso, authorities have allocated about 25 percent of the national budget to education and nearly 12 percent to health.

In Mali, national immunization coverage reached 82 percent in 2024.

The UN has documented more than 1,500 grave violations against children, including killing, abduction, and recruitment by armed groups. More than 8,400 schools were inaccessible in 2025 due to the situation. The UNICEF official stated that lack of access to education and essential services exposes children to illness and psychosocial distress.

UNICEF teams in the region support government efforts in health, water, education, and protection. The official urged the international community to address the needs of children in the Sahel, noting that millions require immediate action.