Armed conflicts, insecurity, protracted displacement and natural disasters affect millions of people across the region.

Overview

The North Africa region, made up of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, is economically and demographically diverse. These five middle income countries were generally on track in 2010 to achieving the health Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target by 2015, even if facing significant rural and urban disparities and gaps in coverage.

I. Introduction

By Kåre Kristensen and Boubacar Ba

Executive summary

This report is based on interviews with Malians during the current crisis in that country.

Malians were astonished that the capacity of the Malian government and army could collapse to zero overnight. Many interviewees were worried about the problems of drug, weapons and people trafficking, and the kidnapping of foreigners for ransom.

Humanitarian situation and needs

Key messages

• The Sahrawi refugee crisis counts among the forgotten crises for which the little funding available is coming mainly from institutional donors like ECHO.

• The Sahrawi refugees will remain dependent on international aid as long as no political solution for their situation has been found

5,592 Malian refugees crossed into Niger last week. The refugees, mainly women and children, are from the regions of Kidal and Menaka and travelled by foot or on donkeys.

They say they fled because of the ongoing war in northern Mali, and for fear of possible reprisals by the Malian army. The also said that more people are on their way to Niger.

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

• 1.1 million Syrian refugees are registered or pending registration as of 13 March, 2013, exceeding the June population planning figure in the Regional Response Plan. Two years on, humanitarian response partners are grappling with limited funding to bring aid to growing numbers of people in need.

• The regional refugee response is a coordinated effort with host Governments and over 60 national and international implementing and operating partners in five countries.

This document provides an overview of developments in the Mediterranean Basin and other regions of interest from 19 February – 04 March 2013, with hyperlinks to source material highlighted and under-lined in the text. For more information on the topics below or other issues pertaining to the region, please contact the members of the Med Basin Team, or visit our website at www.cimicweb.org.

Inside this Issue

In Focus 1

North Africa 2

Northeast Africa 4

Horn of Africa 5

GAO/DAKAR, 5 mars 2013 (IRIN) - Environ 3 000 Maliens qui ont fui les villes et les villages du nord du pays lors de l'occupation par des hommes armés commencent à rentrer chez eux, mais la grande majorité des réfugiés a choisi de rester dans le Sud ou dans les pays voisins, craignant l'insécurité et les représailles, ainsi que le manque de services de base.