Humanitarian Aid: Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Calls on Partners to Comply with National Regulations

Humanitarian cooperation was on the agenda for the Foreign Minister’s official visit to the Belgian capital.

In this regard, Comrade Karamoko Jean Marie TRAORE spoke with the Commissioner in charge of equality, preparedness and crisis management of the European Commission, Ms. Hadja LAHBIB.

From the outset, the European Union’s humanitarian official indicated that she wanted this framework to reaffirm her organization’s willingness to continue the partnership with Burkina Faso, and to gain insight into the authorities’ vision for this partnership, so that humanitarian actors could act in complete neutrality and safety.

Using examples of the perverse effects of certain support mechanisms such as cash transfers, Minister TRAORE explained to the EU humanitarian official the government’s new vision regarding humanitarian cooperation.

“We no longer want offers with instruction manuals, but rather support in a sustainable approach, with impacts on the lives of beneficiaries through structuring projects in the areas of return. Our approach is that the populations benefiting from emergency aid can develop their own capacities and break free from dependency,” explains Comrade Karamoko Jean Marie TRAORE.

The other point of discussion focused on the safety of humanitarian actors and their accessibility to intervention areas.

Both parties recognized the need for information work, so that these actors better understand their role, their limits and especially the principles and regulations of the country in this matter.

For the Burkinabe Minister of Foreign Affairs, it is also important to prioritize local expertise, which is more familiar with the field, in the appointment of humanitarian actors, in order to avoid difficulties related to a lack of knowledge of the context of our countries.

Furthermore, the Comrade Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated that Burkina Faso remains committed to facilitating humanitarian access in secure areas and to guaranteeing the protection of humanitarian actors, but the latter must act in compliance with national security requirements.

It should be noted that during this meeting, the Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management of the European Commission welcomed the progress made by Burkina Faso in resettling displaced persons in their localities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Burkina Faso.