When armed men set her village ablaze, Maïga Aïssetou (60) fled for her life. Her home in Burkina Faso, was attacked by a violent militia. Together with her children, grandchildren, sister, and her daughter’s children, she escaped – leaving everything behind.
Now, in a safer place, Maïga shares her story. This is not the first time conflict has shattered her life: in 2019, the same armed group killed her husband. Ten months ago, they returned. Forced to run, Maïga and her family now lost everything once more.
Although she now feels safe, one major problem remains: food. "Finding something to eat is very difficult", Maïga says. "We are ten people: three adults and seven children."
Without possessions or resources, Maïga’s family depends entirely on food assistance. She is grateful for the support from ZOA and Woord & Daad: "We received rice, beans, oil, salt, and sorghum", she explains. This food aid enables Maïga and her loved ones to survive. And for that, she is deeply thankful.
Maïga’s story is far from unique. In Burkina Faso, millions of people are struggling to survive amid conflict, displacement, and climate change. ZOA is present in the hardest-hit regions, working alongside local partners CREDO and Woord en Daad. Together, we provide life-saving emergency aid while also supporting communities to rebuild their livelihoods and strengthen resilience for the future.