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Burkina Faso on Brink of Humanitarian Disaster

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA - The U.N. refugee agency warns Burkina Faso is on the brink of
   a humanitarian disaster because of growing instability and a chronic
   shortage of resources.

   Looming over this crisis is the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health
   Organization reports Burkina Faso has the third-largest outbreak of the
   disease in Africa, with 340 cases, including 19 deaths.

   The United Nations reports Burkina Faso has the world's fastest-growing
   displacement crisis. Over the past 16 months, nearly 840,000 people
   have fled their homes because of conflict and drought.

   Babar Baloch, spokesman for the office of the United Nations High
   Commissioner for Refugees, says many lives are at risk because of the
   harsh desert-like conditions in remote parts of the country and
   mounting brutal attacks by militants against civilians.

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