Mali: Helping people displaced by violence to regain their confidence and dignity

A happy childhood in his home village

My name is Assagid Ag Mohamed. I'm 21 years old and I have a physical disability. I come from the village of N'tihiguirene in the commune of N'tillit, which is in eastern Mali in the Gao region, close to the border with Burkina Faso. We lived there in peace, going about our daily activities undisturbed.

“I’m nostalgic about the days when, with the help of a walking stick, I would accompany my brothers into the bush to follow our animals. That was my role from a very early age, and it made me feel useful to my family. Those are my fondest memories... I really miss my animals and the pastures.”

The irruption of violence

Six months ago, our lives were turned upside down. Unidentified armed groups operating in the region arrived in our village. They triggered a conflict that brought murder, kidnapping, extortion and cattle rustling to our community. After much hesitation, our father decided to take us away from the village to protect us from the violence. Like most members of our community, we had to leave all our belongings behind.

“The armed groups ordered us to leave. Early one morning, in a desperate rush, we set off on donkeys, trucks or carts. We headed for the Bawa camp for displaced people, near Gao. We weren't able to take anything with us; our houses and possessions were left at the mercy of the village’s new occupants.”

My life changed radically

Today, nothing is the same as before. My family and I live in an Internally Displace People ( IDP) camp. We no longer have any means of subsistence and depend on humanitarian aid to survive. The situation is difficult and the assistance we receive from NGOs is unfortunately not enough. We live from day to day, hoping that the situation will improve.

Fortunately, thanks to Humanity & Inclusion (HI), I was given psychological first aid, which was a real relief and enabled me to overcome some of the trauma caused by our sudden departure, as well as the persistent anxiety I feel for my loved ones and my property. Today, I manage my emotions better and I have regained some inner peace and self-esteem.

What's more, HI has provided me with a wheelchair, which has given me so much more mobility. Before, I had to drag myself along the floor to get around, which required a lot of physical effort. Now, with the wheelchair, it's much easier, I feel more independent and I've regained my dignity.

Hope in our hearts

“I wish more than anything for a return to peace. I dream of being able to go back to my village, to a safe environment where I can live safely with my family. I hope that the conflict will end soon, so that we can return to our native lands and rebuild our lives. I also dream of resuming an activity one day, regaining my place in society and contributing to the reconstruction of my community.”

I'm very grateful to HI and ECHO for their invaluable assistance. Thanks to their support, I've been able to get the help I needed to improve my daily life, and I'm beginning to overcome the hardships caused by our displacement. This gives hope to my family and me, and I'm convinced that, thanks to initiatives like this one, many other displaced people with disabilities will be able to regain their dignity and rebuild their lives.