– There is always more to do in Burkina Faso. It is as if the country is the place where a lot of conflicts and crises run together, he says.
Burkina Faso is struggling with drought, poverty, Islamic terrorist groups and lots of internally displaced people.
– They lack food, they lack water, they lack work, and they lack hope. It is a very desperate situation, he says.
Denmark is working on several projects in Burkina Faso, including digging water wells.
– I have been out looking at many of the projects we are working on to help the internally displaced. We have helped to build communities for the refugees, he says.
During the visit, the Minister held talks with Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Minister of Security and Minister of Health.
Denmark is helping in Burkina Faso, among other things, to prevent many refugees from coming to Europe and Denmark.
– It is clear in the interest of Europe and Denmark to help in the local areas. If we do not have the capacity there, they have no other option than to set in motion towards, for example, Europe, says Flemming Møller Mortensen.
Burkina Faso is located in the Sahel region of Africa in a belt that runs across Africa and has often been hit by drought.
Denmark has been present in the Sahel region for decades and has long-term development programs in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso totaling approximately DKK 500 million per year.
In addition, Denmark has a regional peace and stabilization program of approximately DKK 167 million.
In 2020, Denmark provided DKK 82 million in humanitarian aid to Burkina Faso.
Due to security concerns in the country, the visit was not announced until the end of the minister’s trip.
Source: The Nordic Page