Mali

Humanity & Inclusion provides support to the Malian population severely affected by the conflict of 2012. The organisation runs some fifteen projects to strengthen the recovery and social cohesion in northern Mali, improve people’s resilience, and promote and support sustainable and inclusive development in Mali.

Children in an inclusive school, Humanity & Inclusion- Mali | © Sébastien Rieussec / HI

Our actions

In a situation of extreme poverty, Humanity & Inclusion is working on all fronts to provide Malians with an appropriate response, both in the north and south of the country. Its teams support victims of the recent conflict and continue to defend the right to health and dignity of people with disabilities.

As early as 2012, Humanity & Inclusion mobilised additional teams to respond to the humanitarian emergency in northern Mali. Mine clearance experts notably intervened to clear explosive remnants of war posing a threat to the population, and sometimes even schools.
The organisation continues to support vulnerable people, strengthen health services in the Timbuktu region, and fight against food insecurity and malnutrition among young children. Humanity & Inclusion also supports the initiatives of women's groups committed to peace and reconciliation.
At the same time, our teams remain committed to fighting discrimination against people with disabilities through access to education, care and employment. Finally, Humanity & Inclusion trains medical staff in the early detection of disability. Improving the care-management of young children prevents or limits the onset of disability and allows them to reach their full potential.
Since 2016, the organisation has implemented a project to prevent the risks of developmental delays and disabling sequelae in young children who have suffered from malnutrition, through physiotherapy and psychoaffective stimulation (encouraging interaction between parents and children, stimulation through play, etc.)

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Explosive weapons

African States against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas

From 27th to 28th November, Handicap International (HI) is organising a regional conference on the bombing of civilians. The Conference will take place in Maputo, Mozambique and aims to bring together some 20 States, 10 African civil society organisations and international NGOs. The goal is to raise awareness of this vital challenge among African countries and to encourage them to take action on the world stage to protect civilians from the devastating impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

Health Rehabilitation

Using physiotherapy to treat the consequences of child malnutrition in Mali

Soumana Almouner Touré has worked for Handicap International since 2013. Originally from Gao, he coordinates the ESSPOIR project’s activities in Mali. He talked to us about the project, which helps malnourished children recover from developmental delays in three West African countries - Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger - by providing them with physiotherapy and teaching parents to stimulate their children.

Explosive weapons

Mali: Weapons risk reduction

Since March 2016, Handicap International has worked with almost 20,000 people in northern Mali, raising awareness of small arms and light weapons and explosive remnants of war. This awareness-raising campaign will continue for another year. The objective is to reduce the very high number of accidents in this region of the country, where weapons are commonplace following the intense fighting that took place in 2012-2013.

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Background

Map of Humanity & Inclusion's interventions in Mali

Mali is the largest state in West Africa after Niger and one of the poorest in the world. In recent years, it has been affected by droughts, political crises and armed conflict, which have led to massive population displacements and weakened all institutions.

In January 2012, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) occupied part of northern Mali. Several Islamist movements also made headway in the region. Two months later, the president was overthrown. The country was then plunged into an armed conflict that led to the intervention of the Malian and French armed forces in January 2013.
The fighting and presence of armed groups lead to the proliferation of small arms and the contamination of people’s homes by explosive remnants of war. In 2012, more than half of civilian victims of explosive remnants of war in Mali were children.
Hundreds of thousands of people have taken refuge in neighbouring countries. More than 280,000 Malians fled to the south and centre of the country, where host communities were still suffering from the impact of the devastating food crisis of 2011.
The humanitarian situation remains precarious. Institutions (health, education, public administration and so on) have been seriously impacted and the return of refugees and displaced people to their homes is continuing under difficult conditions.
The country is extremely poor. Mali's efforts to achieve universal primary education, control Humanity & InclusionV/AIDS and improve access to safe drinking water have been severely hampered.
People with disabilities are excluded and often victims of discrimination or prejudice. They represent the largest minority in the country. They have little or no access to health care, education, social services or employment. A very small proportion of children with disabilities attend school. In addition, in these times of crisis, these already very poor people are more vulnerable than before.

Where we work

Worldwide actions

French Development Agency (AFD)

USAID

Fondation Orange

European Union (EU)

Région Rhône-Alpes-Auvergne

UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS)

Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)

Educate a Child (EAC)

Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MAEE)

The Global Fund

Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD)

Mali / Partners

Early detection, management and stimulation of disability (DPCP) (children under 6 years old)

Ministry of Health,
Ministry of Social Development
National Orthopaedic Fitting Centre of Mali (CNAOM)
Malian Association for Combating Mental Impairment in Children (AMALDEME)

Support for the revitalization of the well-being of women, children and newborns in the context of the reconstruction of the Timbuktu region - Project PARENT 2

Regional Health Department; Planning and Statistics Unit (CPS) of the Ministry of Health
Regional Department of Social Development and the Solidarity Economy
Regional Department for the Promotion of Women, Children and the Family
Local authorities; Regional Federation of Community Health Organisations
Coordination of Women's Organisations in Timbuktu

HIV AND DISABILITY - West Africa Regional Project (WF)