Burkina Faso: Fundraising For The World's Most Neglected Internal Crisis

Tuesday, 10 September 2024

By: TB Obwoge

I've written about Burkina Faso often, not as much as Ghana, where I once lived and wanted to register my American nonprofit. Until I traveled the country, learning the toxic, abusive culture, not to mention every where I turned from citizens to institutions scamming and fraud were prevalent.

Something the head of the UK High Commission, Harriet Thompson spoke about almost a year ago. She said how corruption has been normalized in Ghana, she added other countries as well. This is a common issue when trying to operate an NGO (nonprofit) in countries around the world.

Under the leadership of the Transitional President Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso was listed as one of the top 10 best governes countries in Africa. Ghana named 5th.

Ghana named 5th even with 4 conflict areas, soldiers beating 175 Ghanaian men, making them drink gutter water and eat cow poop. The same Ghana where the news media outlets are controlled 70% to 80% by political leaders, under Akufo-Addo freedom of speech as well as freedom of the press have declined.

The world, even Africans seem to ignore the amazing progress that Captain Traoré has made while in leadership. Many Africans will post videos or Ibrahim Traoré walking, talking or even simply standing, but most are not posting about the over 20 million citizens of Burkina Faso.

So let's talk about the most neglected internal crisis in the world, Burkina Faso!

Once again, Burkina Faso is the world’s most neglected crisis

For the second year in a row Burkina Faso is the world’s most neglected displacement crisis, according to a new report from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The normalisation of neglect is exacerbating needs and deepening despair.

The annual list of neglected displacement crises is based on three criteria: lack of humanitarian funding, lack of media attention, and a lack of international political and diplomatic initiatives compared to the number of people in need. The crisis in Cameroon is listed second, having featured on the list every year since 2018. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and Niger follow in this grim ranking, meaning that for the first time all three countries in the central Sahel are among the top five most neglected crises.

“The utter neglect of displaced people has become the new normal,” said Jan Egeland, Secretary General of NRC. “The local political and military elites disregard the suffering they cause, and the world is neither shocked nor compelled to act by stories of desperation and record-breaking statistics. We need a global reboot of solidarity and a refocus on where needs are greatest.”

This year’s list represents a continued race to the bottom. Scores that would have placed a country third on last year’s list leave it outside this year’s top ten. Across all three metrics we have seen a deepening of neglect, most starkly in the ongoing reduction of humanitarian funding. The lack of international support and attention is further compounded by the insufficient media freedom in many countries featured on this list.

In 2023, the shortfall between humanitarian appeals and money actually received amounted to $32 billion - $10 billion higher than in 2022. That vast deficit meant 57 per cent of needs remained unmet. Whilst the funding gap is large, it is far from impossible to close. If each of the five most profitable listed companies worldwide contributed just five per cent of their 2023 profits, the funding gap could be matched in a second.

“We urgently need investment for the world’s most neglected crises. These investments must be made both in the form of diplomatic initiatives to get warring parties to come to the negotiating table, as well as funding commensurate with needs from donor countries,” said Egeland.

Source: Norwegian Refugee Council

I had to edit my flyer because people continued to ask me, "What is Burkina Faso?" Even when I was standing outside the African American museum holding the flag of Burkina Faso. I would tell them it wsa a country in Africa, they would shrug their shoulders and walk away.

I've mailed letter, flyers and emailed churches of every denomination, I've done the same for Hindu & Buddhist Temples as well. There hasn't been any religious institution that I haven't contacted for support from their members.

There are over 2 million children in Burkina Faso that are unable to attend school due to terrorism. Many are using the radio and other means to attend to their studies, these children should be given supplies in which they can use in their homes. These are items that I am collecting for them.

When will people care about others? When will the world care about Burkina Faso?

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©️TB Obwoge 2024 All Rights Reserved