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Mali: UNHCR Operational Update, June 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

  • 40 Protection Incidents related to fundamental human rights’ violations were collected and documented.

  • 41 sensitizations reached 764 persons on the human rights violations and risks associated with mixed migration.

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

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.

■ Despite the deployment of armed forces in Mali, the security situation remains worrying. In addition to security incidents (IEDs, robberies, kidnappings, etc.), inter-communal conflicts in Koro area are only getting worse from day to day, causing forced displacements of people in this area.

■ On 2 June, in Bamako, 16 persons were wounded during an unauthorised demonstration organised by opposition parties. This activity was dispersed by security forces.

■ On 6 June, unidentified armed individuals intercepted a convoy of 9 WFP-registered civilian trucks bound for Tenenkou Circle carrying WFP food, at the village of Dia, Diaka Commune.

■ On 9 June, a FAMa convoy on a mission in Kadial locality in Mopti Region, in charge of recovering the nine (09) WFP-registered civilian trucks hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), followed by a heavy gun fire which left two dead. A vehicle with heavy weapon was carried away by the unidentified attackers and another vehicle was damaged on the FAMa side.

■ High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Filippo Grandi, and his delegation among whom were the Director of Africa Bureau, The Regional Representative for West Africa, and a media team visited Mali on 22 and 23 June 2018. On 22 June, the delegation met and discussed with the President and the Prime Minister, respectively, and thanked them for the Government’s commitment to local integration of the refugees in protracted situation, as well as for the government’s open door policy and hospitality towards refugees from Burkina Faso and Niger. It is worth noting that the Government of Mali granted naturalisation to four Mauritanian refugees and hopes to continue with the process. The HC took advantage of this visit to raise the Malian refugees’ voluntary return from asylum countries in safety and dignity issue. He encouraged to bring the return issue to the heart of the peace process, to strengthen basic social services and social cohesion in the areas of return, and to strengthen the national coordination mechanism on migration issues with the participation of other various actors including IOM, UNICEF and the Malian civil society. He reiterated UNHCR's commitment to assisting and protecting returnees and other populations in areas of return. On 23rd June, the High Commissioner and his delegation travelled to Gao in the north of Mali to meet refugees from Niger or Burkina Faso who are fleeing their countries because of the deteriorating security situation. Furthermore, they have met and discussed with returning Malian refugees from asylum countries. The High Commissioner urged greater support for the newly arrived refugees from Burkina Faso and Niger. In his intervention with the media, he called upon Donors to respond to the need of these refugees.

■ On 20 June, UNHCR in Mali celebrated the commemoration of the World Refugee Day through a series of activities carried out in the localities where persons of concern and UNHCR are located, including Bamako, Mopti and Timbuktu. In Bamako, the office of the Representation celebrated the day on June 20th, 2018, at the Maison des Ainés. This year, the ceremony was marked by a wide dissemination of the High Commissioner’s statement by UNHCR’s Representative in Mali, Ms. Angele Djohossou, on the Malian national television. Other artistic activities as well as theatrical performances led by refugees were performed. They have also exhibited their items in booths as part of UNHCR’s funded income-generating activities (IGAs). In line with UNHCR’s “With Refugees” global campaign, the opening ceremony was presided by Mr. Adama Berete, Mayor of Bamako’s Commune IV, Mr. Amadou Diallo, the Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Solidarity and Humanitarian Action, Ms. Angele Djohossou, UNHCR’s Representative in Mali, Ms. Silvia Caruso, the Acting Representative of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Humanitarian Coordinator, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Mali, and Mr. Patrice Makilutidi Mvuama, President of the Refugee Union in Mali (URM). The ceremony was attended by refugees and asylum-seekers of different nationalities, UNHCR's partners in Mali, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of UN agencies, Donors, journalists and governmental and non-governmental organizations.