Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Mali + 8 more

Mali: UNHCR Operational Update, May 2018

Attachments

HIGHLIGHTS

More than two and a half years after its signing, the 2015 Peace Accord and Reconciliation in Mali still lacks necessary support and its implementation has been minimal.

The volatile security environment in northern and central Mali as well as in the border areas continues to trigger forced displacements inside Mali and into neighboring countries. This situation impacting on the protection environment and limiting humanitarian access as well as access to basic services such as health, documentation, shelter, water, education and food.

KEY INDICATORS

  • 54 Protection Incidents related to extortion, injuries and deaths, were collected and documented.

  • 119 Birth Certificates were distributed to Mauritanian refugees in Kayes.

  • The total number of registered Burkinabe refugees reached 7,374.

PRIORITIES

  • Support voluntary repatriation of refugees in protracted situations;

  • Continue the process of naturalisation for Mauritanian refugees who have indicated their desire for local integration;

  • Support and advocate for the functioning of the Appeals Board as well as expedite the granting of refugee status to eligible applicants;

  • Strengthen protection to PoCs through socio-economic activities and access to basic rights;

  • Strengthen advocacy for the domestication of the Kampala Convention for IDPs;

  • Approach other UN Agencies to encourage them to intervene through projects to strengthen basic social structures (“delivering as one” context).

Update on Achievements

Operational Context

■ The humanitarian and security situations in Mali are complex and are deteriorating. Insecurity and various violations of human rights and international humanitarian law expanded from the northern to the central regions, increasing the vulnerability of populations. The protracted nature of the crisis is worrying amidst less funding of protection and humanitarian assistance.

■ The "executions of civilians" continued in the region of Menaka, where UNHCR closed its field unit in December 2017. Following the attacks in April, that caused the death of more than 43 people, the Tidinbawen site was attacked again on 1st May. The local media reported 17 deaths and several property damage. This brings the reported total number of dead civilians to more than 55, all executed between 25th April and 1st May. This situation have not directly impacted UNHCR’s operations in Mali. However, the humanitarian access to provide the required assistance to the forcibly displaced populations is challenged due to the prevailing security situation in the region.

■ On 29th May, the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres paid a visit to Mali on the occasion of the International Day of Peacekeepers and as a sign of solidarity with Mali. The SG’s mission also aimed to support the implementation of the national Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in Mali stemming from the Algiers process signed in Bamako, the holding of transparent elections and the security in Mali.

■ In Mopti and Sévaré, the SG praised the collaboration of the agencies and promised to make a plea to the member states so that the Mali’s case is taken into account to avoid the conflagration of the Central region which can also lead to a catastrophe in all the regions.

■ Upon an invitation from the Government of the Republic of Mali, and in accordance with the provisions of the Tripartite Agreement signed in Ouagadougou on 9th January 2015, the 7th meeting of the Mali-Burkina Faso-UNHCR Tripartite Commission on the voluntary return of Malian refugees in Burkina Faso, was held in Bamako on 8th and 9th May 2018.

■ On May 15th, 2018, the mayors, heads of fractions and notables of the communes of Gossi, Rharous, Haribomo and Bambara Maoudé in the region of Timbuktu, resigned from GATIA and made a declaration of accession to the armed group “Haut Conseil pour l’unité de l’Azawad (HCUA)” affiliated with the “Coordination des mouvements de l’Azawad (CMA)”.

■ UNHCR and its governmental partner the National Commission for Refugees in Mali (CNCR) registered additional 5,001 Burkinabe refugees in N’Tilit commune, Gao region. This brings the total number of the registered Burkinabe refugees to 7,374 persons.

■ The communal conflicts between Dogon and Fulani in Koro district, Mopti region, caused the displacement of 63 Fulani persons in Koulikoro region, in the outskirts of Bamako. The national authorities carried out an assessment of needs and provided food, health and shelter assistance. UNHCR deployed a mission to Kolikoro to monitor the situation and assess the needs of the new arrivals. During this mission, UNHCR’s delegation met with customary and administrative authorities that indicated that sensitizations are ongoing to mitigate against the spread of community tensions.

■ Following the serious incidents in Menaka by end of April, between the MSA/GATIA coalition and the Islamic State extremist groups in the Great Sahara, which caused the death of civilians, internal and cross-border displacements to Niger were reported. An estimated number of 700 IDP households (6,000 individuals) were affected.

■ Following a sensitization activity conducted on 27th April with a Syrian community’s representative in Bamako, 220 Syrian asylum seekers (15 households) met with UNHCR’s governmental partner, the National Commission in charge of Refugees in Mali (CNCR). Following this activity, applications for asylum have been submitted by this group. Accordingly, they have been registered and have received their certificates.

■ On 13th May, UNHCR’s partner Mercy Corps, was a victim of an armed attack by two unidentified armed persons in Douentza, Mopti region, following a bank transaction with the view of distributing the repatriation grant to the returnees of that locality. Fortunately the attackers took two bags in the vehicle, which contained two computers and a hard drive, believing that the bags contained the cash.

■ As part of the 10th meeting of the Tripartite Commission Niger-Mali-UNHCR and the 4th meeting of the Mauritania-Mali-UNHCR Tripartite Commission recommendations, UNHCR Mali approached UNHCR in Niger and Mauritania to share the lists of refugees after biometric enrollment operations (BIMS) in these two countries. UNHCR Mauritania shared on May 31st, 2018 a list of 3,997 Malian refugees after the BIMS activity in M'bera refugee camp.