The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has raised an alarm about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in several regions of Mali, with a particular focus on Ménaka. In the final week of January 2024, the IRC reported over 4,690 individuals arriving from localities on the outskirts of Menaka due to ongoing violence.
In addition to this substantial influx of displaced people, the town of Ménaka has been grappling with access challenges since December 2023. Prices for essential food items have surged, markets are empty, and those that remain are struggling to meet the needs of the new arrivals and host communities. The scarcity or absence of flights to transport food and medicine to Ménaka further exacerbates the crisis. The influx of displaced people is adding extra strain to already limited resources.
Matias Meier, IRC Country Director for Mali, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “The humanitarian situation in Mali continues to worsen, with over 7.1 million people in need of assistance. The IRC is working tirelessly to provide vital support to the hardest-hit communities, especially in Ménaka. People require everything, starting with the most basic human needs such as water, food, shelter, adequate sanitation, and protection for women, girls, and children, due to the unique circumstances of the situation.”
Meier added, “In response to the current situation, the IRC is conducting visits to the reception site, and teams are quantifying the number of displaced people who have arrived. The IRC, in close collaboration with all its partners, is steadfast in providing assistance to displaced people and host communities in Ménaka.
The concentration of people in one location is generating crucial health, food, hygiene, and protection needs. The most vulnerable individuals, including women and children, are exposed to various forms of abuse. Urgent humanitarian action is imperative to support the people of Ménaka.
The IRC is urging the authorities and the international community to prioritize funding the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) to better support the most vulnerable populations hardest hit by conflict. In 2023, the Mali HRP was only 30% funded, leaving millions of people in need of humanitarian assistance without lifesaving aid. The IRC also advocates for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to allow the delivery of emergency humanitarian aid.
Faced with numerous challenges, the IRC, as the lead of the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) in Ménaka, is persisting in its emergency assistance to the growing number of displaced people in the region, as well as in northern and central Mali. In 2023, the IRC supported over 310,000 individuals affected by the direct or indirect effects of the conflict. Additional activities are also being carried out in response to the nutritional and food crisis in several regions such as Ménaka, Gao, and Nara.
This disastrous humanitarian situation requires swift and decisive action to prevent further suffering and loss of life. The IRC’s call for humanitarian aid and support for the most vulnerable in Mali is an appeal for global solidarity and compassion in the face of crisis.
