In northern Burkina Faso, the harrowing impact of conflict on children like Safi is tragically evident. When armed assailants descended upon her village, Safi found herself thrust into a nightmare scenario. Huddled with her four children, they endured the terror of witnessing loved ones being ruthlessly slain, leaving them to grapple with the burden of survivor’s guilt.

Safi’s ordeal is not isolated; it reflects the plight of millions displaced by escalating violence between Islamic extremists and security forces across Burkina Faso. Shockingly, approximately 60% of those displaced are children, bearing the brunt of trauma inflicted by conflict. However, amid the turmoil, access to mental health services remains limited, leaving many children to navigate their anguish without adequate support.

Rudy Lukamba, the health coordinator for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Burkina Faso, emphasizes the critical need to identify and address trauma in affected children. Often, mothers play a pivotal role in recognizing signs of distress in children as young as three or four years old. Lukamba underscores the importance of a supportive parental figure in facilitating successful outcomes post-treatment.

In northern Burkina Faso, relentless attacks by militants affiliated with groups like the Islamic State and al-Qaida have become distressingly commonplace. Villages deemed to have collaborated with the enemy often bear the brunt of reprisal, resulting in mass casualties and profound community trauma. Over the past decade, the toll of violence has been staggering, with more than 20,000 lives lost, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED).

Despite the alarming scale of psychological distress among children, mental health services in Burkina Faso remain grossly inadequate. With just over 100 mental health professionals serving a population exceeding 20 million, access to care is severely restricted. While efforts to expand community-based services by social workers are underway, the resources remain insufficient to meet the staggering demand. Additionally, traditional medicine practitioners are witnessing a surge in families seeking assistance for traumatized children.

For Safi and her children, the journey to safety was fraught with peril and uncertainty. Fleeing their ravaged village on foot, they traversed arid plains in search of sanctuary, eventually finding refuge in Ouahigouya, the capital of Yatenga province. However, their physical escape did not offer respite from the psychological scars of their ordeal. Nightmares haunted their sleep, and the specter of trauma pervaded their waking hours, inhibiting normalcy and robbing them of childhood innocence.

Fortunately, through the intervention of organizations like the ICRC, Safi and her children found a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. Connecting with a compassionate health worker, they embarked on a journey of healing, utilizing art therapy as a means of expression and catharsis. Through home visits and therapeutic activities, the children were encouraged to confront their fears and articulate their emotions, paving the way for recovery and resilience.

In the face of adversity, Safi’s story underscores the indispensable role of holistic support in mitigating the long-term impact of conflict-induced trauma on children. As Burkina Faso grapples with the profound challenges posed by ongoing violence, addressing the mental health needs of its most vulnerable citizens must be prioritized. Only through concerted efforts to expand access to comprehensive mental health services can the scars of war be healed, and the promise of a brighter future for the children of Burkina Faso be realized.