Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced on Monday that it has suspended operations in the northern Burkina Faso city of Djibo due to escalating attacks by militant groups.
Djibo, located near the border with Niger and Mali, has seen a surge in violence in recent years. The city’s population has skyrocketed from 60,000 to over 200,000 in just five years as people flee their villages to seek refuge.
MSF cited recurrent attacks on health centers, water distribution points, and its own facilities as the reason for the suspension. An MSF official reported a significant increase in incidents attributed to armed groups this year.
The charity’s office in July was targeted by gunfire, destroying water supply stations it had provided.
“We need adequate security conditions to continue our mission and provide support to the communities trapped by insecurity and violence,” said Moussa Ousman, head of MSF’s West and Central African programs.
Burkina Faso, one of the world’s poorest nations, has been grappling with an insurgency since 2015. The conflict has claimed the lives of over 26,000 people, including more than 6,000 this year alone, according to ACLED.