Burkina Faso: the Luxembourg Red Cross is helping families displaced by the Solhan massacre

11 June 2021

The attack that took place in Solhan on the night of 4 to 5 June is the deadliest that Burkina Faso has seen since 2015. The Luxembourg Red Cross, which is already active in the country, is supporting thousands of displaced people by distributing emergency shelters.

The attack in Solhan, in the Sahel region, was the deadliest in Burkina Faso since 2015. More than 130 people, civilians and soldiers, children and adults, were shot dead by armed groups, dozens were injured and more than 1,000 families fled the area. The Luxembourg Red Cross is intervening to help more than 800 displaced and shocked people, who have lost their loved ones and their homes, and whose needs are immense.

“Burkina Faso was already affected by the spiral of violence in the Sahel, with many displaced people, but now we are facing a new wave of Burkinabe families who have lost everything. The humanitarian needs are immense and unfortunately, they are increasing day by day,” said Raymond Ligban, Chief of Mission of the Luxembourg Red Cross in Burkina Faso.

The Luxembourg Red Cross humanitarian teams are preparing to install about 100 shelters for displaced families. They are also planning to install 20 emergency latrines on two sites for displaced people: one in Dori in the Séno province and the other in Sebba in the Yagha province, 15 km from Solhan, thanks to the support of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

People wishing to support the Luxembourg Red Cross can make a donation online below or by bank transfer (IBAN LU52 1111 0000 1111 0000; Reference: Burkina Faso):

The Luxembourg Red Cross has been present in Burkina Faso since 2009 in order to strengthen the Burkinabe Red Cross in the implementation of projects responding to the most urgent needs of displaced and vulnerable people: installation of emergency shelters, as well as the distribution of essential household items and hygiene articles.