In Brief
Appeal target: CHF 275,283 (USD
218,700 or EUR 177,300);
Appeal coverage: 17.1%.
Annual Appeal: http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/annual05/05AA029.pdf
This Annual Report reflects activities implemented over a one-year period; they form part of, and are based on, longer-term, multi-year planning.
Operational context
The economy of Mali is primarily based on agriculture, which represents half the country's gross national product (GNP). The combined effects of its debt burden and its Structural Adjustment Programme have constantly placed Mali as one of the poorest countries in the world. Drought, like elsewhere in the Sahel region, has become a recurring issue in the country. Cholera, malaria, HIV/AIDS, lack of adequate water and sanitation (WatSan) facilities and river blindness are the main health risks facing the country. The mortality rate of children aged under five years is 122 per 1,000 live births.
The trade route between Mali and Côte d'Ivoire contributes to the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to the proliferation of child labour. Following troubles in neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire, the return of approximately 50,000 (unofficial statistics) Malians has placed a major burden on the already poor health and school infrastructure and has negatively impacted the foreign remittances formerly sent back to Mali by these workers.
The 2004-2005 harvest in the Sahel region was seriously affected by the worst locust invasion in twenty years, compounded by low rainfalls. Crops were greatly reduced, as was the availability of grazing land in pastoralist areas. This resulted in serious food insecurity in Mali as well as the other countries in the Sahel region. The 'lean' period, which occurs between April and October - when the harvest from the previous year has been exhausted and the current year's production is not yet ready - is always difficult in the Sahel region, and proved particularly lengthy over 2005, partly contributing to the food security crisis.
In response to the food insecurity situation in the Sahel region, the International Federation launched an Emergency Appeal on 22 July 2005, for CHF 18,243,483, to assist 44,400 families (some 220,000 beneficiaries) in four countries, including Mali: http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/05/05EA015.pdf. The Mali Red Cross, through its volunteer network, was actively involved in responding to needs within the framework of the Sahel food security operation.
In addition to the financial support, the Federation provided human resources support to the Mali Red Cross. The Spanish Red Cross coordinated distribution activities as well as logistical support to the Swiss Red Crosscoordinated distributions. Distributions in the Tombouctou region reached an estimated 14,310 beneficiaries; thanks to the distribution support provided by the Mali Red Cross volunteers. These distributions were complemented with parallel vaccination activities.
Some 22 Mali Red Cross volunteers were trained in distribution processes and good practices by the Federation logistician in Mali. National society capacity in relief distribution and logistics has been reinforced, with the Federation team providing overall communications and logistics support to Mali Red Cross, as well as the Spanish Red Cross and Swiss Red Cross operations.
All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org
For further information specifically related to this Annual Appeal please contact:
- In Mali: Sibiry Diarra, Executive Secretary, Mali Red Cross, Bamako; Email: crmalienne@afribone.net.ml; Phone +223.24.45.69; Fax +233.24.04.14
· In Senegal: Alasan Senghore, Federation Head of West and Central Africa Regional Delegation, Dakar; Email: alasan.senghore@ifrc.org; Phone. +221.869.36.41; Fax +221. 860.20.02.
- In Geneva: Madeleine Lundberg, Federation Regional Officer for West and Central Africa, Africa Dept; Email: madeleine.lundberg@ifrc.org; Phone +41.22.730.43.35 ; Fax +41.22.733.0 3.95
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