Violence in northern Mali forces over 20,000 into exile
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
UNHCR has deployed emergency teams to countries surrounding Mali to help meet the needs of some 20,000 people who have been forced to flee fighting in northern Mali. Most of the displaced are in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.
Fighting between rebel Tuareg groups and governmental forces in the Azawad region of northern Mali began in mid-January.
In the past three weeks, at least 10,000 people are reported to have crossed to Niger, 9,000 have found refuge in Mauritania and 3,000 in Burkina Faso.
In Niger, most of the new arrivals are from Menaka in Mali. Some have settled very close to the volatile border. Many of the new arrivals are sleeping in the open and have little access to shelter, clean water, health services, and food. People are scattered mainly in villages in Tillaberery, Ouallam, and Filingue districts, in the north of the country. Sinegodar, a village in Tillabery district, is hosting over 5,500 Malians, with one sole water point for the entire refugee and local population.
While most of those who recently fled Mali are Malians, recent arrivals in Niger also include nationals of Niger who had been living in Mali for decades. Many have been crossing the border between the two countries regularly to find grazing land for their cattle.
Local communities along the border, affected by the food crisis themselves in the Sahel, are sharing their resources with the new arrivals. The authorities have also distributed food. Four additional UNHCR staff are already in Niger and more are on their way. We plan to send aid for 10,000 people from our stockpiles in the region.
Our office in Ouagadougou, in Burkina Faso also reported the arrival of some 3,000 Malian Tuaregs following attacks on their homes and businesses in the Malian capital Bamako and in the nearby town of Kati last week. Many of the new arrivals are staying with host families in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso, 320 kilometres south-west of the capital. Other new arrivals have been reported in the north west of the country, especially near Djibo, in Soum province. An inter-agency mission, including UNHCR, is scheduled to go there by the end of the week to assess the needs of the people.
Meanwhile in Mauritania UNHCR has sent several missions to the village of Fassala, in the region of Hodh el Chargi 3km from the border with Mali, where over 9,000 people have arrived since 25th January. The mainly ethnic Tuareg Malian refugees come from the region of Léré on the other side of the border. They told UNHCR that they fled fighting between Government forces and rebel Tuareg fighters, fearing retaliation by army troops.
The Mauritanian authorities, with the support of UNHCR, are taking care of the new arrivals. Medical services are being offered by the local health clinics and water is being trucked in by the authorities. UNHCR Mauritania distributed 15-day food rations and non food items to cover the urgent needs of 5000 refugees in the refugee site of Fassala. Key needs identified are food, shelter and other basic items. UNHCR will strengthen its presence in Mauritania by fielding an emergency support team.
Fighting between the Tuareg liberation movement MNLA (Mouvement National de Liberation de l'Azawad) and governmental forces resumed on 17 January in Mali, breaking a 2009 agreement that had officially ended the Tuareg rebellion.
For further information on this topic, please contact:
- In Dakar: Helene Caux on mobile +221 77 333 12 91
- In Geneva: Fatoumata Lejeune-Kaba on mobile +41 79 249 3483
- In Geneva: Sybella Wilkes on mobile +41 79 557 9138
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Indigenous peoples' Knowledge and Climate Adaptation
Aug 2020 ... ... As climate change leads to more extreme weather conditions, Suri Jagek reinforces the community’s ability to adapt and sustain its way of life. In Niger, UNHCR supported Tuareg refugees from Mali ...... -
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [covering the period 1 Jan. 1998-31 Mar. 1999]
23 Apr 1999 ... ... In West Africa, the repatriation of Tuareg refugees to Mali and Niger was completed, while sizeable ... The return of Tuareg refugees to Mali and Niger was completed. With the improvement of the situation ...... -
UNHCR Global Report 2014 - Providing for essential needs
1 Jun 2015 ... ... the fact that the refugees are predominately Tuareg and Tamachek – Berber people who have a ... nomads, we travel with our animals.” – Senat Kabani, Tuareg village elder and Malian refugee. ...... -
Mali Situation Update No. 2, 19 March 2012
19 Mar 2012 ... ... Most refugees have fled due to fear of reprisals against both Tuaregs and Fulani in Bamako and Mopti, Sourgou areas in northern Mali. They also fear attacks from militia (Arab, Sonrai and Tuareg) who ...... -
Mali Situation Update No. 5, 15 May 2012
15 May 2012 ... ... the age range of 18 to 59 years; 3,3% in the age range of 60 years and above; - 53% females and 47% males; 90% Tuareg and 10% Arabs (Berbers). Monitoring of the refugee relocation process continues. ...... -
Summary Record of the 512th Meeting Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, on Wednesday, 9 October 1996, at 3 p.m
15 Oct 1996 ... ... Unfortunately, his own country, Mali, was among the countries that had contributed to the flow of refugees. 15. In June 1990 an uprising had broken out in among the Arab-Touareg population in northern ...... -
UNHCR Global Report 1999 - The Year in Review
1 Jun 2000 ... ... While some Guatemalan refugees chose to repatriate, some became naturalised citizens and oth- ers chose to remain in Mexico as immigrants. In Mali, the reintegration programme for 132,000 Touaregs was ...... -
"Refugee Crises in Africa: Challenges and Solutions" - Address by Mrs. Sadako Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, Cape Town, 25 March 1997
25 Mar 1997 ... ... On the contrary, with the remarkable process of reconciliation in Mali, we have helped more than 110,000 Tuareg refugees to repatriate. We have began to assist more refugees to go home to Somalia, in ...... -
Opening remarks by Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, Assistant United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to the Standing Committee of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme (ExCom), Geneva, 9 September 1997
9 Sep 1997 ... ... To date more than two thirds of Mali refugees, largely Touaregs, have returned with UNHCR assistance. There are also promising developments in north-western Somalia. A pilot repatriation programme for ......