he central Sahel region—Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—is facing a severe humanitarian and protection crisis. Massive displacement, most of it driven by intense and largely indiscriminate violence perpetrated by a range of armed actors against civilian populations, is taking place across the region. While internal displacement is on the rise substantial numbers of refugees have fled to neighboring countries, and the situation risks spilling over into the coastal countries of Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo. This context is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is already affecting areas hosting refugees and IDPs