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Mali: Humanitarian Bulletin (April - May 2017)

Countries
Mali
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

HIGHLIGHTS

  • More than 32,000 people displaced in 2017 due to renewed violence

  • Humanitarian access: positive results of the community approach

  • Prospects on cash transfers to deliver food aid in Mali

  • Humanitarian partners establish a network to strengthen protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA)

32,000 people displaced in connection with violence in 2017

The deterioration of the security situation in the north and the centre of Mali has caused more than 32,000 people to flee since the beginning of the year, according to the data collected by humanitarian partners (reports of the Commission on population movements – CMP - and of the partners of the Rapid Response Mechanism – RRM – as at 31 May).

These movements have occurred either as a result of intercommunity conflict and tensions - often exacerbated by the presence of various armed groups and self-defence groups – or in connection with clashes between armed groups or as a result of terrorist attacks and subsequent operations by security forces.

According to assessments conducted by humanitarian actors, the displaced persons fled primarily as a preventive measure, for fear of reprisals, amalgam and/or arrests by armed elements on the ground.
Most of the displaced persons have found refuge in makeshift camps or sites or in host communities, most often in very precarious conditions in terms of shelters and access to water and food.

Assistance to newly displaced persons

Following reports of population displacements, evaluations have been made, including through the rapid response mechanism , to identify and respond to priority needs. In support to the Government, various partners have mobilized to provide emergency assistance to displaced persons in the areas of food, water purification products, shelter kits and basic items, etc.

However, the prevailing insecurity, the low presence of humanitarian organizations in certain areas and the lack of funding of the humanitarian response in the country have slowed down the response and affected the effectiveness of the assistance provided.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.