Pr. On 31 January 2021, Burkina Faso will host 19,823 Malian refugees. Following the terrorist attacks and the insecurity that began to settle around and in the Mentao refugee camps, in Soum and Goudebo provinces, in Seno, the government and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees have decided to make the camps safer.
With our correspondent, back from the Goudebo camp, Pedestrian Boudani
The Goudebo camp, which now hosts all refugees in the Sahel region, has been rehabilitated. Hundreds of elements from the security forces are installed there with security material. Roads and other infrastructure are installed. A new life begins for its resettled or relocated refugees.
At the Goudebo refugee site, life has been slowly resuming since it reopened a few weeks ago.
Moussa Ag Malokia, a Malian refugee, lived at the former Goudebo site. He had fled to seek refuge in Dori after the attack by the armed groups in May 2020. “At the moment we feel safe because we see the security forces turning around. We even see small planes flying over the camp, ”he says.
Haidara Cheick and the seven members of her family lived in the Mentao camp in Djibo. With the burning of the camp police station by armed groups and an attack by the defense and security forces at the camp in search of suspects, they had to return to the city of Djibo and eventually find themselves in Goudebo. “Since we have been here, we have only seen normal life. The treatment is free, ”he testifies.
Shelters, drinking water, schools, health centers, basic social services are in place with a permanent presence of an important security system. “Everything is completely free here, whether it is for refugees or citizens,” emphasizes Ibrahim Karambiri, medical director of the health center.
Faced with insecurity, the government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have decided to move all Malian refugees to the only place in Goudebo for better care.
“We have expanded the camp so that it can accommodate all refugees, including those outside the camp, to provide better care and also provide better control and better security for all these refugees,” said Alpha Barry, Burkinabè Minister. for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
6,570 Malian refugees have already been resettled at the Goudebo site. The operation will continue with the refugees who remained in Djibo and those who do not live in the camps.
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