SURVIVAL IN THE MARGINS: Border Cities In The Forced Migration Crisis Studied Through The West African Border City Of Dori And The Impact On Its WASH Infrastructure.

Border cities of the least developed countries (LDCs) are an exceptionally significant, yet largely overlooked aspect of conflict-induced forced migration. Despite their crucial position as centers of stability within the socio-economic reach of the forced migrants, these cities occupy a peripheral position in the global conversations on forced migration and in the development priorities of their respective countries. As a result, these cities are left with minimal resources to support the displaced populations, as well as the host populations. As the conflicts intensify and the number of displaced people rapidly increases, severe limitations in infrastructure and services greatly restrict the population’s access to fundamental needs like clean drinking water and sanitation facilities. Eventually, as the conflict spreads, these cities get isolated to such an extent that the emergency infrastructures, provided as temporary solutions at the beginning of the crisis, become the only available resources to sustain the populations. This paper focuses on the conflict-induced migration in the Liptako Gourma region of West Africa, and its impact on the border city of Dori in Burkina Faso to highlight the crucial position of border cities in the LDCs and the insurmountable challenges they face as they continue to remain overlooked