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

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.

Link: Inter-Agency Regional Refugee Response for Syrian Refugees 7 - 13 March 2013

GAO/DAKAR, 4 March 2013 (IRIN) - Nearly 3,000 Malians who fled towns and villages in the north when armed men occupied their homeland have headed home, but the vast majority are staying put in the south or in neighbouring countries, for fear of insecurity, reprisal killings, and in the knowledge that basic services are still sorely lacking.

“Recent attacks and fighting, unexploded ordnance, the fear of reprisals, and the lack of basic services, are all elements dissuading people from returning,” said Helene Caux, spokesperson with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

BAMAKO, Mali, 29 janvier (HCR) – Avec la situation militaire qui évolue rapidement au Mali, le HCR s'apprête à aider au retour de milliers de personnes déracinées par le conflit dans le nord du pays.

« Nous prévoyons d'ouvrir de nouveaux bureaux à Gao et dans d'autres villes du nord dès que les conditions de sécurité le permettront », a indiqué Adrian Edwards, porte-parole du HCR, tout en soulignant que la présence des troupes rebelles islamistes et l'insécurité qui en résulte ont entravé l'accès humanitaire vers le nord.

BAMAKO, Mali, January 29 (UNHCR) – With the fast-evolving military situation in Mali, the UN refugee agency is readying itself to assist in the possible spontaneous return of thousands of conflict-displaced people in the north of the country.

"We aim to open new presences in Gao and other cities in the north as soon as security conditions allow," said UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards, while noting that the presence of Islamist rebel troops and the resulting insecurity has hampered humanitarian access to the north.

The plight of thousands of people internally displaced in Mali following the recent military intervention is getting worse The armed intervention launched on 10 January 2012 by the Malian army and foreign troops against Islamist armed groups has caused thousands of people to flee their homes.

According to the latest estimates dating back to 14 January 2013, close to 230,000 people were internally displaced in Mali since January 2012. The overall number of people internally displaced since the beginning of the current military intervention is still unknown.

GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS

• As of 1 December, the total number of Malian refugees in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria, Togo and Guinea is 155,187 persons. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mali as a result of the crisis is estimated at 198,558. The current number of Malian refugees and IDPs is 353,745 persons.