(Ecofin Agency) - The Burkinabe government reported that 191,937 internally displaced persons have returned to their communities since August 31, 2023. The announcement came following a Council of Ministers meeting held on September 20.

Official figures indicate that over two million residents have fled their homes due to the escalation of terrorist attacks plaguing Burkina Faso since 2015. After several offensives launched by transitional authorities to regain areas occupied by terrorists, some IDPs have finally returned home.

However, 40% of the country is still under the control of terrorists. As a reminder, earlier this month, about 50 soldiers and their auxiliaries of the Burkina Faso army were killed in an attack by suspected jihadists in the northern region. They were targeted during a "control" mission in Koumbri, Yatenga province, to retake the locality and resettle the displaced population.

Regarding the resettlement of populations, authorities plan to rehabilitate socio-educational, water, health, and road infrastructure, as well as implement various actions in line with the National Recovery Strategy. These actions include supporting income-generating activities, rebuilding housing, restocking livestock, and promoting dry-season agriculture to ensure the successful reintegration of communities.

"To encourage the return of other internally displaced persons to their places of origin, the government has initiated several actions in addition to those already underway. Upcoming actions involve the continued consolidation of pacified areas, the return of administration, ongoing awareness campaigns for internally displaced persons and populations, and the systematic supply of returned communities with clean water, food, and non-food items," states the Council of Ministers' communiqué.