Over 31,000 Malian refugees in Burkina Faso faced with hunger

More than 31,000 Malian refugees in Burkina Faso are faced with food insecurity due to insufficient financial resources, United Nations agencies warned Tuesday.

"In 2015, the World Food Program (WFP) gave food assistance and financial support to over 31,000 Malian refugees. In 2016, WFP has not given any financial support and has reduced food rations to the same refugees," a joint statement by WFP and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said.

The two UN institutions said the situation risks getting worse in the coming three months, because the approaching hunger period is the time when the refugees will be more vulnerable and they will need more support.

The statement reiterated that the refugees are in need of immediate support, and warned that if nothing is done, the situation could have tragic consequences.

WFP made an urgent appeal for 2.5 million U.S. dollars to provide support to Malian refugees who need it to survive.

Since 2012, Mali which shares a long border with Burkina Faso has been at war with secessionist rebels, especially in the North, forcing thousands of Malians to flee to Burkina Faso.

Since that period, WFP and UNHCR have been working in collaboration with Burkinabe government and non-governmental organizations to assist the refugees fleeing conflict in northern Mali. Enditem