Registration exercise in Burkina Faso
Registration exercise in Burkina Faso
UNHCR, 16 Oct 2012
URL: http://data.unhcr.org/SahelSituation
A newly completed registration exercise in Burkina Faso has shown a sharp decline in the number of Malian refugees in the country. The new count, undertaken by UNHCR, the Government of Burkina Faso and several humanitarian partners confirmed a total of 34,877 Malian refugees, down from some 107,000 previously recorded.
The latest exercise -- called "level 2 registration" in UNHCR language – entailed individual and physical processing of the refugees recorded as the emergency had unfolded from January this year. The figure of 107,000 refugees had resulted from this initial emergency phase when refugee statistics are compiled through “level 1 registration”: data is at that time collected only on a household basis and from information provided by local officials and refugee leaders.
The “level 2” registration was initiated by UNHCR to establish a more accurate refugee population figure and took place from 26 July 2012 to 23 September 2012 in 12 refugee sites and spontaneous settlements located in the country’s Sahel region bordering Mali. Refugees in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso were also registered.
The sharpest reduction in figures was seen in the spontaneous refugee settlements in the North of the country where, because of the difficult terrain and the rainy season, UNHCR and other aid agencies had been unable to gain consistent access and to establish constant and sustainable operational presence.
“UNHCR is delighted that this much more accurate registration has been undertaken” said Valentin Tapsoba, the UNHCR Regional Coordinator for the Mali Situation. “With the new and more reliable figures, the Government, UNHCR and partners can better target the protection and assistance needs of refugees”.
UNHCR is also carrying out “level 2” registration of the Mali refugees in Mauritania where the results are expected in October. A similar exercise will also be launched in Niger in the coming weeks. New, revalidated refugee statistics for the whole region are expected to be known by the end of November. On this basis, the refugee agency, its partners and the respective host Governments will complete the adjustment and re-alignment of funding and operational requirements in line with the new figures. UNHCR has already started this review in Burkina Faso.
Meanwhile, more refugees continue to cross into neighbouring countries from northern Mali. Since 1 August 2012, some 3,109 new arrivals have been registered in Burkina Faso, this time using "level 2 registration".
The latest exercise -- called "level 2 registration" in UNHCR language – entailed individual and physical processing of the refugees recorded as the emergency had unfolded from January this year. The figure of 107,000 refugees had resulted from this initial emergency phase when refugee statistics are compiled through “level 1 registration”: data is at that time collected only on a household basis and from information provided by local officials and refugee leaders.
The “level 2” registration was initiated by UNHCR to establish a more accurate refugee population figure and took place from 26 July 2012 to 23 September 2012 in 12 refugee sites and spontaneous settlements located in the country’s Sahel region bordering Mali. Refugees in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso were also registered.
The sharpest reduction in figures was seen in the spontaneous refugee settlements in the North of the country where, because of the difficult terrain and the rainy season, UNHCR and other aid agencies had been unable to gain consistent access and to establish constant and sustainable operational presence.
“UNHCR is delighted that this much more accurate registration has been undertaken” said Valentin Tapsoba, the UNHCR Regional Coordinator for the Mali Situation. “With the new and more reliable figures, the Government, UNHCR and partners can better target the protection and assistance needs of refugees”.
UNHCR is also carrying out “level 2” registration of the Mali refugees in Mauritania where the results are expected in October. A similar exercise will also be launched in Niger in the coming weeks. New, revalidated refugee statistics for the whole region are expected to be known by the end of November. On this basis, the refugee agency, its partners and the respective host Governments will complete the adjustment and re-alignment of funding and operational requirements in line with the new figures. UNHCR has already started this review in Burkina Faso.
Meanwhile, more refugees continue to cross into neighbouring countries from northern Mali. Since 1 August 2012, some 3,109 new arrivals have been registered in Burkina Faso, this time using "level 2 registration".