11 March

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MALI CONSOLIDATED APPEAL – PRIORITY ACTIONS 11 March 2013Grave protection concerns have emerged in Mali. Before the January military intervention,reports had already surfaced of gender-based violence and children being recruited by armedgroups. Since January 10, armed groups have reportedly committed serious violations ofinternational humanitarian law and human rights. Other forms of violence against civilians anddestruction of civilian property have also been observed. These developments may be linked toa disturbing rise in ethnic tension that has fuelled new displacements since the beginning of theyear.Very few IDP returns have been observed to date. IOM flow-monitoring points have registered2,300 returns, constituting only 13% of population movement observed between January 12 andFebruary 10. The remaining 87% is displacement from northern to southern regions. The maindestinations for people returning from the south to the north are Timbuktu (45%, 1,028 people),Mopti (42%, 962) and Gao (13%).According to an IOM survey of IDP families in Bamako and Koulikoro, the vast majority of IDPswish to return home, but are mainly waiting for better security. Other major concerns of potentialreturnees include the availability of basic services (especially education), access to food andtransport. Most surveyed IDPs came from the urban centres of Gao and Timbuktu. As forrefugees, available information indicates a more cautious “wait and see” attitude towards returns.Prevailing security conditions in the north are not conducive to returns. Given the currentvolatility, it is impossible to measure total refugee and IDP returns with accuracy. The ability ofAFISMA troops to hold major roads and urban centres could be decisive in this regard. Basedon experiences in other emergencies, some 20 to 25% of the displaced – 80,000 to 100,000people – could start to return as soon as security conditions improve.3. CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINTSWhile humanitarian access is improving in the central regions, further north the scope ofhumanitarian operations is determined by security constraints. As a result, humanitarianpartners must adapt to a dangerous and unpredictable security environment. These conditionsare likely to persist for many months.The primary challenges in this context are:Lack of resources and capacity to address operational needs related to security andaccess in conflict-affected areas, both for NGOs and the UN system.Incomplete information on needs in conflict areas as a result of access limitations thathave restricted the number of assessments.Lack of capacity to manage emergency response or large numbers of refugee or IDPreturns.Risk of paying too much attention to the north of the country at the expense ofhumanitarian needs in other regions. Rehabilitation or reconstruction needs are certainly2
MALI CONSOLIDATED APPEAL – PRIORITY ACTIONS 11 March 2013considerable in some areas in the north, but the entire north does not need rebuildingand very significant needs in the rest of the country should not be forgotten.The presence of new humanitarian actors arriving in the north, in the belief that it isaccessible, must not be allowed to endanger humanitarian actors who were active in theregion while it was under control of armed groups. It is also important that the new actorscoordinate amongst themselves and with those already on the ground, and that they takeinto account what was achieved by NGO partners during the year of occupation. Thiscoordination will help avoid gaps and duplication.Risk of confusing humanitarian affairs with political and security agendas (e.g. ECOWAShumanitarian assistance).Lack of funding for humanitarian action (2013 CAP currently 6% funded).4. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND TOPPRIORITIESThe projections and analysis in the 2013 Consolidated Appeal remain relevant, including thestrategic objectives. The humanitarian community in Mali must act to:Ensure an effective response to vulnerable people’s most critical needs across thecountry.Adapt programs to meet changing needs in conflict-affected areas and establishoperational approaches that minimize risk and respect humanitarian principles.Based on these objectives, the top priorities are the following:1) Security and access Immediately mobilize sufficient resources to strengthen operational securitymanagement, including bolstering DSS and emergency telecommunications, revisingsecurity contingency plans, reinforcing security coordination among all partners (NGOs,UN Agencies) and improving security training. Strengthen mine action activities and adapt logistics strategies to current securityconstraints (including cross-border operations). Reinforce civil-military coordination in Bamako and key areas outside the capital (likeMopti). Strengthen dialogue with key stakeholders outside Bamako (local authorities, militaryofficials, others).2) Humanitarian responseStrengthen protection capacities in all accessible areas, including prevention, monitoring,promotion of social cohesion, mine action, population movements, child protection andgender-based violence. Strengthen inter-cluster coordination on protection issues.3
Page 1 and 2: MALI 2013Credit: UNHCR / Helene Cau
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11 March

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