In January 2012, the country was 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.
With the aim of restoring peace and security in the North, the Algiers Peace Agreement was signed in June 2015. However, since the beginning of 2018, the centre of Mali has been the scene of armed conflict between radical groups.
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 HIV/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.
Number of HI staff members: 195
Date programme opened: 1996
