Bamako, Mali, 30 August 2023 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the European Union (EU) have concluded a joint project to provide essential support to vulnerable populations affected by the crises in the Mopti and Gao regions of Mali. With the aim of improving access to healthcare and protection, the programme has developed the capacity of local health centres in terms of intensive nutritional care, maternity and paediatrics, and has enabled the creation of safe spaces dedicated to women and young girls. Since May 2022, the EU has supplemented these activities by making a contribution of 3.4 million euros and reached more than 140 000 people.
Marked by the intersection of armed conflict and the pervasive impacts of climate change, Mali is entrenched in an intensifying crisis. This situation has triggered an unparalleled upsurge in humanitarian needs, resulting in widespread displacement and an acute escalation of food insecurity. Presently, over 40% of Mali's entire population requires urgent humanitarian assistance.
The armed conflict and political instability initially erupted in March 2012, and Mali continues to grapple with the aftermath, facing the daunting challenge of curbing the expansion of armed groups. As a result of these challenges, a growing number of civilians are grappling with the deprivation of their most fundamental necessities —water, food, as well as the escalating inaccessibility of healthcare and education. In the northern and central regions of Mali, conflict has led to the closure of one in every five health centers.
Adding to this complexity, climate change exacerbates the crisis by disrupting livelihoods through floods and droughts, fueling tensions between farmer and herder communities, and compelling over 1.3 million individuals to abandon their homes. Within this context, girls and women disproportionately face the brunt of these impacts, as they become more vulnerable to exploitation and gender-based violence. In northern Mali, IRC staff report increased instances of sexual violence against women and girls by armed men during drought seasons as distances grow between communities and water points. IRC staff also report that girls drop out of school in order to help their families by collecting water and wood during economic hardships. Girls are also subjected to early marriage in exchange for money as families struggle to meet their needs during climate crises.
Since 2012, IRC Mali has provided critical assistance for over two million Malians who have been displaced due to conflict and are grappling with acute food shortages. This assistance spans across several pivotal domains: health and nutrition, economic recovery and development, education, water hygiene and sanitation, as well as protection and governance.
With funding from the EU, the IRC has been able to fortify local health facilities. The program’s efforts have ensured that essential services are readily accessible to populations grappling with malnutrition.
Although our humanitarian actions have been significantly disrupted by the omnipresence of armed groups and military operations since the launch of the project, the impact has been palpable, extending access to health facilities to more than 94,000 members of the host community and 2,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). Notably, a remarkable achievement of the program has been the successful treatment of more than 6,400 malnourished children.
In tandem with healthcare initiatives, the IRC provided urgent counselling and protection services for women and children, particularly for survivors of violence. Thanks to the creation of a safe space, more than 800 women were able to take part in awareness-raising sessions on topics such as gender equality, child protection, and gender-based violence (GBV). As a result, many of them were able to access the services they needed to regain control of their lives, such as psychological support, case management, and referrals for medical care or legal assistance.
Matias Meier, IRC Mali Director, said:
“The needs in Mali loom larger than ever, their intensity unwavering. We are bearing witness to a dramatic surge in confrontations among rival armed factions, a surge mirrored by a distressing uptick in fatalities and acts of sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls. In this setting, our apprehension deepens as we observe the dwindling of donor funding, a decline that only fans the flames of economic instability and heightens the fragility of civilians.
Within this challenging panorama, the IRC welcomes the EU's continued support. Together, we have forged a path of progress, taking decisive strides in our collective response to Mali's crisis. Undeterred by the formidable risks, our teams remain fully dedicated on the ground, fortified by the resolute commitment of the European Union, and with hopeful anticipation, that of the broader international community. Together, we stand resolute to confront this crisis head-on, transforming the challenge into an opportunity for healing and renewal.”
The International Rescue Committee partners with the European Union to provide life-saving support to people caught in conflict and disasters around the world. Our work funded by the EU enables people to survive, recover and rebuild their lives.