Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

Basic needs regarding food/nutrition, access to water and sanitation facilities and quality health-care services of vulnerable people affected by conflict and/or other situations of violence in Mali are covered.

Expected results

The ICRC aims to achieve the following results per Assistance sub-programme for 2019:

- Dietary and other basic needs gap for 982,860 vulnerable people (residents, displaced persons, returnees or migrants in distress) reduced;

- Access to safe water supply and sanitation facilities for 169,190 people and their livestock established.

Target group / Beneficiaries

With Austria's contribution of EUR 1.500.000, supporting an estimated total of 147.462 beneficiaries and focusing on ICRC's Assistance Programme, the ICRC will be able to reach the following results:

- Dietary and other basic needs situation of 125.806 vulnerable people improved

- Access to safe water for 21.656 people restored

The ICRC works closely with the Mali Red Cross and implements this program in areas around Timbuctoo, Kidal, Mopti and Gao.

Activities

Activities include:

- Provide quality agricultural seeds, tools, equipment, training in good farming practices, and support for rehabilitating water sources and tracts of land up to 10,260 farming households (61,560 people), including members of market gardening groups, cultivate crops for food or fodder

- Organize animal vaccination and deworming services, distribute fodder, train veterinary personnel and provide cos-efficient transport and advice for marketing livestock, for the benefit of up to 127,000 pastoral households (762,000 people)

- Distribute household essentials, or cash to up to 33,000 people

- Facilitate access to water for up to 98,500 people – by supporting to maintain, repair or construct urban water systems and wells, boreholes and micro-dams in rural areas; provide training and equipment for technicians from water-network management committees

- Provide basic water, sanitation and shelter services for up to 10,000 people in case of an emergency situation

Context

The conflict in Mali persists as violent confrontations between armed groups and Malian and international forces – including the G5 Sahel force, the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and the French armed forces – continue to take place. The fighting occurs mainly in northern and central Mali, including areas near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger, but attacks have also taken place elsewhere. The government and some armed groups are seeking to implement a 2015 peace accord, but have made little progress to date. Communal violence and increased criminality add to the volatility in northern and central Mali. The fragmentation and proliferation of armed groups complicate the situation. People continue to be arrested in connection with the conflict. Communal and ethnic violence worsened, especially in central Mali; tens of thousands of people were displaced in the first half of 2019. This situation was exacerbated by recurrent drought, competition over limited resources, and a rise in criminality owing to political and security void in some areas.

These circumstances hinder the resumption of State services in parts of Mali, disrupting people’s livelihoods and access to basic services; they also make it difficult for humanitarian organizations to deliver aid. Thousands fled their homes in search of safety or better prospects within Mali or elsewhere; Malian refugees in neighbouring countries remain unable to return home. Migrants passing through Mali on their way to Europe continue to be at risk of physical assault or other unlawful conduct.

The ICRC delegation in Mali seeks to protect and assist violence-affected people, and visits detainees, providing them with aid where necessary. It promotes International Humanitarian Law among armed and security forces and armed groups and encourages the authorities to ensure its implementation. It works closely with the Mali Red Cross and helps it develop its operational capacities.