From Burkina Faso to the very heart of Congo

Imagine transitioning from the familiar landscapes of Burkina Faso to the vast and diverse terrain of Congo, all with a mission to uncover its stories – not through words or pictures, but numbers. That was my challenge when I started as an international UN volunteer with the UNFPA’s country office. But why numbers, you ask? Numbers hold power. They drive decisions, influence policies and mould the future.

On 15 April 2023, armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces broke out in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Over two million people have fled to other parts of the country and over 880,000 to neighbouring countries. The United Nations evacuated international staff from the city and Port Sudan was established as an alternative station for UN operations. This article features three international UN Volunteers who have returned to Sudan and are currently supporting the crisis response.

Landlocked in West Africa, Niger faces a tumultuous refugee crisis and brings many humanitarian challenges – food insecurity, internal displacement, and more. UNHCR reports that there are over 580,000 people of concern in Niger – including 48 per cent internally displaced people and 43 per cent refugees. UNHCR and UNV collaborated on the deployment of 100 online volunteers to raise awareness of our collective responsibility for the rights of refugees through a social media campaign.