Burkina Faso, the hopes of a country caught between desertification and conflict

A Mossi village meeting under a tree’s shade in Nementenga province © Marco Simoncelli, Davide Lemmi

Burkina Faso, the hopes of a country caught between desertification and conflict

The Barsalogho refugee camp in Sanmatenga province, in northern Burkina Faso © Marco Simoncelli, Davide Lemmi

Burkina Faso, the hopes of a country caught between desertification and conflict

A man praying in Ouagadougou's central mosque © Marco Simoncelli, Davide Lemmi

Burkina Faso, the hopes of a country caught between desertification and conflict

A Fula (Peul in French) woman in the Barsalogho refugee camp © Marco Simoncelli, Davide Lemmi

Burkina Faso, the hopes of a country caught between desertification and conflict

IDPs (internal displaced people) rest in a tree's shade in the Foubé refugee camp. Most of them are women, children and elderly people © Marco Simoncelli, Davide Lemmi

Burkina Faso, the hopes of a country caught between desertification and conflict

A Koglweogo self-defence group on patrol in the Centre-Nord region of Burkina Faso © Marco Simoncelli, Davide Lemmi

Burkina Faso, the hopes of a country caught between desertification and conflict

Kogleweogo men prepare their weapons at one of their bases in Nementenga province © Marco Simoncelli, Davide Lemmi

Burkina Faso, the hopes of a country caught between desertification and conflict

Fula children in hte Barsalogho refugee camp. Members of the Burkinabe gendarmerie can be seen in the background © Marco Simoncelli, Davide Lemmi

Burkina Faso, the hopes of a country caught between desertification and conflict

Fula refugees in Barsalogho. The refugee camp is overcrowded and isolated, and health and food conditions are precarious © Marco Simoncelli, Davide Lemmi