World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Local authorities estimate that more than 6,000 refugees have fled to Burkina Faso to escape the Tuareg conflict in Mali. This figure is expected to double in the coming weeks. 

 Refugees often arrive in large families, after having traveled for more than a week from northern Mali. 

 A rapid assessment was conducted to understand the needs of the refugees. Here, WFP Regional Food Security Assessment Officer Cedric Charpentier interviews a group of refugees. 

Refugees describe a decline in the quantity and quality of their meals. They eat only once or twice a day - normally just rice with some oil. Children are eating the same food as their parents and not consuming any milk, which they normally drink every day. 

WFP will provide food assistance to the refuges and has already sent two trucks of food to the region, enough for the needs of 5,300 people for a week. The food includes cowpeas, oil and CSB++ - a blend of corn and soy flour, fortified with micronutrients, milk powder and fat that targets moderate malnutrition in children ages 6 - 23 months. WFP is working closely with other humanitarian organizations such as WFO, UNICEF and UNHCR to support the refugees.