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Mali: UNHCR Operational Update, October 2017

Attachments

Mali continues to face a volatile security situation amid growing threats of terrorism, criminality and intercommunity tensions in the northern and central regions.
Local populations face important protection risks amid limited access to public services, documentation, shelter, water, education and food security.
Despite significant challenges, the implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Accord advances slowly in order to re-establish peace and security in the region.

KEY INDICATORS

13 Young refugees received DAFI tertiary education grant offered by the German Government in 2017-2018

12 Central African Republic refugee households voluntarily repatriated from Mali to Bangui in October

1,028 Birth certificates distributed to Mauritanian refugees in the Kayes region since beginning of the year

Update on Achievements

Operational Context

■ The security situation in Mali remains volatile with threats of terrorism, criminality and intercommunity violence in the north and central regions impacting the protection environment for civilians and limiting humanitarian access. Violation of human rights continue to be recorded with local populations facing limited access to public services, documentation, water, education and food security.

■ The state of emergency in Mali was extended for another 12 months following a decision by the Malian government on 20 October. The new extension is effective 31 October and follows a previous one that was decreed on 19 April 2017 and covered a period of six months.

■ Within the framework of the fight against terrorism, the Malian Prime Minister Abdoulaye Idrissa Maiga visited Europe from 9 to 14 October, where he called for the establishment of a 3.34 billion Euro Malian Marshall Plan aiming at developing northern regions.
Additionally, he seized the opportunity to reiterate that the primary concern should be the fight against terrorism.

■ A visit by the UN Security Council to the Sahel region took place from 19 to 22 October and met with the Government, representatives of the French military operation Barkhane, members of diplomatic representations in Mali, the UN agencies, representatives of armed group signatories to the Accord for Peace and members of the civil society. The mission aimed at delivering a message on the importance of the implementation of the 2015 Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, assessing the level and nature of the threat posed by terrorism and transnational organised crime, and promoting support to the joint G5 Sahel force.

■ On 30 October, Washington pledged a financial aid of 51 million Euros for the G5 Sahel force. In the meantime, the force became operational on 31 October.

■ The need to uphold humanitarian principles remains of utmost importance to counter the shrinking of humanitarian space necessary to conduct life-saving activities. Incorporating protection mainstreaming principles and promoting a meaningful access, safety and dignity for humanitarian aid remains key to humanitarian actors.

■ On 19 October, UNHCR participated to the launch of the Solidarity Month ceremony in Niono, Segou region. The Month is an initiative by the Malian Ministry of Solidarity and Humanitarian action.