Seno: The High Commissioner of the province of Oudalan, Valentin Mare, presided on Friday in Dori over the capitalisation workshop of the integrated assistance project in shelter, livelihoods and food security, implemented for the benefit of displaced populations and vulnerable host communities in the Sahel and Eastern regions.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), with support from the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and USAID, led this project aimed at strengthening the resilience of populations affected by insecurity and forced displacement. NRC area manager Amadou Maiga stated that the initiative "has helped save lives and reduce the suffering of households facing extremely difficult humanitarian conditions." The project reached 97,875 people, including 78,300 internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The project included the drilling of around ten boreholes, some equipped with hand pumps, and the rehabilitation of 19 water points to provide access to drinking water in the intervention areas. In terms of sanitation, 39 latrine blocks were constructed, and 4,960 hygiene and dignity kits were distributed to improve household living conditions and reduce health risks.

Economic recovery for vulnerable populations was also a focus of the project. Two hundred improved emergency shelters were built for households lacking adequate housing. Additionally, 980 people, including 676 IDPs, were trained in vegetable production techniques, and 280 beneficiaries received support for income-generating activities. According to the NRC, these efforts contributed to strengthening the economic independence of many vulnerable households.

Despite the project achieving satisfactory results, Amadou Maiga noted several major constraints, such as mobility difficulties in high-security challenge areas, which sometimes impeded the delivery of equipment and access to sites. Inflation in the cost of construction materials also hindered the project's ability to fully address the growing needs of displaced populations.

High Commissioner Valentin Mare expressed gratitude on behalf of the Governor of the Sahel region to the NRC and its partners for their accomplishments. He commended the project for contributing to managing the humanitarian emergency while supporting the economic and social recovery of the Sahel's populations.