World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

More than 30,000 people have crossed the border from Mali into Burkina Faso, fleeing the conflict in the northern part of the country. These young boys are Malian refugees living in the Ferrerio refugee site in the Sahel region of northern Burkina Faso. 

The refugees receive identification cards from UNHCR and WFP. These cards are for a family, stating the head of the household's name and the number of people in the family. 

At the Ferrerio site, a Malian refugee waits to receive his food ration. In addition to responding to the needs of refugees, WFP is providing food assistance for the host communities including through Food for Work activities. 

Some refugees make handicrafts to earn a small amount of extra income. Here, at the Ouagadougou site, a refugee holds up some traditional knives with leather sheaths that he has made.

Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Christian Friis Bach visited the Ferrerio site at the end of March. With a generous donation of US$ 2.6 million in December 2011, Denmark was one of the first donors to respond to the early warning signs of a food crisis in the Sahel 

The influx of refugees has exacerbated an already precarious food situation in Burkina Faso and put pressure on WFP's food stocks. The continued support of donors to is needed for WFP to keep on effectively responding to this complex crisis.