In the heart of Burkina Faso’s Northern Region, the town of Ouahigouya has become a symbol of both crisis and resilience. Faced with the harsh realities of violence and displacement due to ongoing conflict, thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have fled their homes in search of safety and dignity. What they found initially was survival under makeshift coverings, hosted by already vulnerable families, or left exposed to the elements.
But hope arrived in the form of coordinated humanitarian action. In partnership with UNHCR, the African Initiatives for Relief and Development (AIRD) stepped forward with a clear mission: to restore a basic human right, adequate shelter for those who had lost everything.
From Planning to Action
Initially, the objective was to construct 200 emergency shelters. However, as needs escalated and funding increased, AIRD and UNHCR revised their goal to 870 shelters, reaffirming their commitment to the displaced families of Ouahigouya.
Each shelter built is the result of a meticulous, inclusive process:
• Vulnerable families are carefully identified and profiled.
• Kits composed of tarpaulins, timber, and essential tools are sourced and packaged with care.
• Local technical teams, trained by AIRD, build each structure with attention to safety and durability.
• Beneficiaries are not just recipients, they are involved, trained, and empowered to maintain their new homes.
From Tents to Homes
By May 25, 2025, 131 shelters had already been completed, offering stable and secure housing to families living both with hosts and at a dedicated 20-hectare site for IDPs. These shelters do more than shield from the rain and sun; they offer privacy, dignity, and a space where children can sleep peacefully, mothers can cook without fear, and families can begin to reclaim a sense of normalcy.
A Safe Space, A Fresh Start
The transition was life-changing for Awa, a mother of four who fled her village in early 2024. “We lived under plastic sheets for months,” she recalls. “When the shelter was completed, my children smiled again. It’s more than a roof, a place where we feel human again.”
Looking Forward
With hundreds more shelters in the pipeline, AIRD and UNHCR remain committed to finishing all 870 units by the end of 2025. This initiative is more than just a construction project; it’s a testament to what is achievable when humanitarian values, strategic planning, and community involvement unite.
In a region marked by instability, the shelters in Ouahigouya are tangible signs of progress. They speak of resilience, protection, and above all, the unyielding belief that everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
