Mali September 2017 USD 41,007,532 OPERATIONAL UPDATE

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1 OPERATIONAL UPDATE Mali September 2017 Mali continues to face a volatile security situation amid growing threats of terrorism, criminality and intercommunity tensions in the northern and central regions. Local populations face important protection risks amid limited access to public services, documentation, shelter, water, education and food security. Despite significant challenges, the implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Accord advances slowly in order to re-establish peace and security in the region. KEY INDICATORS 13 Young refugees will receive DAFI tertiary education grant offered by the German Government in FUNDING (AS OF 30 SEPTEMBER 2017) USD 41,007,532 requested for Mali 28 New protection monitors to be deployed in relation with mixed migration flows in Mali 959 Birth certificates distributed to Mauritanian refugees in the Kayes region since beginning of the year Unfunded 93 % 37,938,590 Funded 7 % 3,068,942 POPULATION OF CONCERN IDP returnees Malian refugees* Returnees IDPs Refugees in Mali (mixed origin) Asylum seekers (mixed origin) Returned refugees visit UNHCR s sub-office in Gao upon return in Mali, in order to receive assistance for their most urgent needs. Photo : UNHCR Mali/A. Yacouba 2017 Figures as at August 31, * Source: UNHCR. All other figures sourced from the Government of Mali. 1

2 Update on Achievements Operational Context The security situation in Mali remains volatile with threats of terrorism, criminality and intercommunity violence in the north and central regions impacting the protection environment for civilians and limiting humanitarian access. Violation of human rights continue to be recorded with local populations facing limited access to public services, documentation, water, education and food security. The implementation of the Agreement for peace and reconciliation in Mali is slowly continuing to progress. On the 23 rd September, the CMA and the Plateforme declared the ceasefire and stated their commitment to the implementation of the Agreement for Peace. On 19 th September, the Governor of the region of Kidal Mohamed Ag Ichrach returned to Kidal to take up his position permanently after years of absence, generating optimism for the return of stability through the presence of National Authorities and security forces. The Governor stated his priorities would now be education, health and supplying healthy drinking water. On 5 September, the UN Security Council, at the request of the Malian authorities, adopted resolution 2,374 establishing a targeted sanctions regime on Mali. The resolution imposes a travel ban and assets freeze on individuals and entities engaged in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Mali. The 2015 Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali included in its article 54 language inviting the Security Council to adopt measures against those undermining the implementation of the Agreement and the pursuit of its objectives but so far the Council had not followed through on this threat of sanctions. On 9th September, President Keita inaugurated the new HQ for the planned G5 Sahel force in Sevare, Mali. The force will be commanded by the Malian General Didier Dacko and should be 5,000 strong. It is meant to address the impact of terrorism and transnational organized crime, including through the conduct of cross-border joint military counterterrorist operations. Regional HQs are also planned in N Beiketial, Mauritania for the north eastern sector, Niamey, Niger for the central sector and Wour, Chad for the south west sector. The need to uphold humanitarian principles remains of utmost importance to counter the shrinking of humanitarian space necessary to conduct life-saving activities. Incorporating protection mainstreaming principles and promoting a meaningful access, safety and dignity for humanitarian aid remains key to humanitarian actors. 2

3 Achievements PROTECTION Protection Cluster The humanitarian needs overview (HNO) process has continued in the country in September. The narrative part of the overview has been drafted by cluster members with contribution of the regions. Over persons are considered as in need of protection by the cluster in Mali. The main identified protection needs relate to human rights, sexual and gender based violence, child protection and fight against landmines. The protection cluster monthly meeting took place in Bamako on 6 September. The analysis of protection incidents in the north of Mali showed a decrease of 33 in comparison with last month. The need to secure protection monitors was highlighted, as cases of threats against them were reported, preventing them from visiting some villages. Advocacy notes for a safer access to the Koro circle and Kidal region were also requested. On 20 September, an extraordinary meeting of the strategic consultative group of the protection cluster was held on the protection situation in the Mopti region, and in particular in the circles of Koro and the commune of Dialloubé. An advocacy note was drafted during the meeting to reinforce the protection environment in those areas. On 29 September took place the civil-military coordination meeting in Gao. The deterioration security situation on the road axis in the regions of Gao, Kidal and Ménaka was on the agenda. In particular, the increase of rape reports against women while travelling on those roads was discussed. In response to this worrying trend, the protection cluster proposed a prevention strategy that was presented to participants to the meeting. On 8 September, the protection cluster in Timbuktu were informed of local tensions in the community in Gargando. Members of the cluster requested the intervention of actors involved in social cohesion activities in the region to solve the issue. Mixed migration: New partnership agreements have been signed between UNHCR and the NGOs ADES, AMSS, Stop Sahel and TSF for mixed migration activities in the regions of Bamako, Gao, Mopti and Timbuktu that are being implemented in the frame of the Central Mediterranean situation. 28 protection monitors are to be deployed in Bamako and the regions of Gao, Mopti and Timbuktu in locations likely to receive mixed migration flows. Contacts have been engaged with authorities and relevant stakeholders in order to get a better picture of mixed migration issues in Mali. In the 3

4 Gao and Timbuktu regions, meetings were held with authorities, IOM and local associations in order to discuss possible cooperation on this issue. In September, mixed migration flows have been regularly reported by various stakeholders, some of them linked with protection incidents. In the Timbuktu region, where local association warned on the increased flow of migrant in transit in the region, consultations of all actors are ongoing to enable the préfet to set a response mechanism to mixed migration related issues and assess needs. UNHCR and IOM have been requested to conduct sensitization sessions on protection issues. Social counselling: 9 urban refugees received guidance or were referred to partners by UNHCR. The main issues raised by refugees was the need for support to travel documents, support to income generating activities, education grants and health expenses. SGBV: With the aim of reducing the risk of SGBV and improving the quality of response in Gao, Kayes, Mopti and Timbuktu regions, 66 sensitization sessions were carried out on the risks and consequences of SGBV, early marriage and the importance of girls education reaching at least 1,527 men and women from refugee returnee and local communities. Social Cohesion: In the regions of Gao, Kidal, Menaka, Mopti and Timbuktu through the partners AMSS and Stop Sahel, 33 sensitization sessions on social cohesion reached 1,094 men and women from refugee returnee and local communities. Documentation: In Kayes region, 314 birth certificates have been distributed to Mauritanian refugees through Stop Sahel. In total, since the beginning of the year, 959 birth certificates have been distributed out of the planned 2,659 for Protection Monitoring: 60 protection incidents were collected and documented through UNHCR s partner AMSS, during this month, mostly in the regions of Gao, Kidal, Mopti and Timbuktu. Most of the reported incidents relate to extortion, injuries and deaths. Since the beginning of the year, 666 protection incidents have been collected and documented (temporary figure, as of 30 September 2017). Voluntary repatriation: o On 14 September the Tripartite Commission Mali-Niger-UNHCR on the voluntary return of Malian refugees in Niger took place in Bamako. The progress on the implementation of the work plan adopted at the 8 th meeting of the Commission on 24 February 2017 in Niamey was assessed. o An information meeting was organized on 29 September with the 24 Centralafrican refugees who had expressed their will to return home, in order to inform them on the actual security situation in their area of origin and allow them to decide on an informed basis whether to go back, given the deteriorating security situation in the country. Following the meeting all 24 refugees confirmed their will to repatriate. The return process of those refugees has been initiated. 4

5 EDUCATION The selection process of refugee students who will benefit from the tertiary education grant from the German Government (known as the DAFI grant) has continued over September. On 26 September, during the last step of the process, 10 new refugees have been selected and will be able to start or continue their studies thanks to this support. They have been briefed on their rights and obligations associated with this grant. In total, 13 refugees will study thanks to DAFI grant this year. In the Kayes region, 63 sensitization sessions on the importance of the enrolment of children in school have been carried out by Stop Sahel reaching 452 persons from both refugee and host communities in refugee hosting sites. In the frame of promotion activities of education for rural refugees, 500 education kits have been distributed through Stop Sahel in the Kayes region to children in 4 communes. In the Kayes region, 3 sites have been identified to receive school dormitories to facilitate access to education of refugee children. In Bamako, the education committee met on 28 September. During the meeting 781 refugee children (400 girls and 381 boys) of primary and secondary school have been identified to receive education assistance for the school year. Assistance is to be distributed early October. HEALTH 2 families freshly enrolled in the health insurance scheme in September in Bamako. Since the beginning of the year, 23 families have newly subscribed to the programme, out of an annual objective of 300. In Kayes region, 6 households enrolled to the scheme in Bomborde. Through Stop Sahel, 14 sensitization sessions were carried out reaching 315 persons from the refugee and host communities on the importance of health insurance in Kayes region. In this region, 4 community health centres have adhered to the health insurance scheme during a joint mission of Stop Sahel and UTM. Thanks to this certification, the health scheme now covers those 4 additional sites. Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps 5

6 Many urban refugees suffer from serious or chronical diseases. Due to resource constraints, it is not possible to assist all of them. A targeted support is provided to the most vulnerable only, leaving others relying on their own resources. Also, many urban refuges do not accept to contribute to health expenses through the health insurance scheme. Sensitization is carried out in order to explain the benefits of such a scheme. WATER AND SANITATION In Timbuktu area, a restored water point has been handed over to population in the village of Hassi Sidi Amar, with the presence of the partner ADES and local authorities. It will benefit both returnees and local population access to potable water. So far, 2 waterholes out of the planned 8 have been handed over through ADES. Sensitization sessions have been carried out towards 55 persons from all communities on the durable use of the waterhole and hygiene practices. In Mopti region, a large well has been restored in Bilantao, Hombori commune, and a water pomp has been restored in Kimarou. In the Timbuktu and Gao regions, restoration work is ongoing for waterholes in Koigouma and Arateme (Timbuktu region) and Wami (Gao region). Waterhole have been drilled in Sabogat and Tessalit, Gao region. SHELTER AND NFIS In Timbuktu, the restoration of 100 shelters is over, with an implementation rate of 100%. All the 290 traditional shelters that were planned have been distributed, reaching an implementation rate of 100%. The 100 mud shelter that are being restored in Timbuktu and Lere through Croix Rouge luxembourgeoise have reached an implementation rate of 74% so far. In Mopti, all the 100 traditional shelters that were planned have been built through the partner Stop Sahel, reaching an implementation rate of 100%. The 100 mud shelter that are being restored have reached an implementation rate of 84% so far. In Menaka, contruction works of 80 mud shelter (40 in Ménaka and 40 in Anderamboukane) and of 50 traditional shelters (20 in Menaka and 30 in Anderamboukane) are still in progress. 6

7 In Gao, 100% of the planned 100 traditional shelters have been restored through TSF since the beginning of the year, and 240 out of planned 250 have been constructed. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT AND SELF RELIANCE Cash grants: UNHCR, through its partner Mercy Corps, is providing cash grants to refugee returnees to meet their basic needs and support their reintegration since the beginning of the year. 5,391 returnees are targeted to receive this support in As of 15 September, 3,875 returned refugees have received cash grant in the Gao, Menaka, Mopti and Timbuktu regions. Income-Generation Assistance: o In the Timbuktu region, groups that benefited from support to income generating activities in 5 villages received a training in accounting by the partner ADES. In total, 34 groups have received support to income generating activities in this region, out of the planned 40 for Visits to beneficiary groups took place in Doukouria, Gari, Niafunke, Dire, Goundam and Wana. The activities of all groups seem to function in a satisfying manner, the visits have not revealed any particular challenge. o In Mopti, 50 beneficiaries of support to income generating activities have been trained on business management through the partner Stop Sahel. o In Gao, on 12 and 13 September, 60 persons (23 men and 37 women) from all community members were trained on business management through the partner TSF in the frame of the reintegration project of returnees in the regions of Gao and Menaka. o In Kidal, five groups have been identified to receive support in business management from TSF. The selection of those groups has been validated by a local population committee and local authorities. o In Bamako, in the frame of support activities to social integration and selfreliance of urban refugees, 18 refugees out of the planned 5 have been selected to receive professional training in various sectors. o In Bamako, the candidacy of 32 urban refugees wishing to get enrolled in a professional apprenticeship were reviewed. 20 of them have been selected and orientated towards the right training. Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps Cash grant: Threats against a money trader has been reported in the north, preventing access to some return areas. UNHCR, the partner Mercy Corps and local authorities are in discussion to find a solution to this issue. 7

8 Working in partnership 8

9 Financial Information Total recorded contributions for the operation amount to some US$ 3,068,942 million, including US$ 1,785,622 million for the Mali situation. UNHCR is grateful for the critical support provided by donors who have contributed to this operation as well as those who have contributed to UNHCR programmes with unearmarked and broadly earmarked funds. Earmarked funding received (in USD) Japan Sweden France CERF

10 External / Donors Relations Special thanks to the major donors of unrestricted and regional funds in 2017 United States of America (95 M) Sweden (76 M) Netherlands (52 M) Norway (41 M) Priv Donors Spain (29 M) Japan (25 M) Denmark (23 M) Australia (19 M) Canada (16 M) Switzerland (15 M) France (14 M) Germany (12 M) Priv Donors Republic of Korea (12 M) Italy (10 M) Thanks to other donors of unrestricted and regional funds in 20XX Algeria Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Chile Costa Rica Estonia Finland Iceland Indonesia Ireland Kuwait Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Mexico Monaco Morocco New Zealand Qatar Republic of Korea Singapore Sri Lanka Thailand Turkey United Arab Emirates Uruguay Zambia Private Donors CONTACTS Isabelle Michal, External Relations Officer, Mali michal@unhcr.org, Tel: Mahamadou Diallo, Public Information Assistant, Mali diallmah@unhcr.org, Tel : LINKS Mali Situation UNHCR Portal Mali UNHCR Portal - Facebook - Twitter 10