UNHCR MALI OPERATIONAL UPDATE MARCH APRIL 2017 KEY FIGURES 579 Refugee returnees and hst cmmunity members frm the regins f Ga and Mpti participated in sensitizatin sessins n the preventin and respnse t sexual and genderbased vilence (SGBV). 145 Birth certificates were distributed t Mauritanian refugees in Kayes regin t facilitate their access t civil dcumentatin. FUNDING USD 40 millin requested fr the peratin Funded 6% UNHCR and its partner ADES visit a restred vegetable garden patch t supprt incmegenerating activities f wmen in Timbuktu. ADES HIGHLIGHTS 106 prtectin incidents were registered in the regins f Ga, Mpti, Timbuktu, Menaka and Kidal during the mnth f April. The majrity f incidents relate t extrtin, early and frced marriage, injuries, rbberies and death threats. Since January 2017, 256 incidents have been registered with the majrity f incidents taking place in Ga and Timbuktu. On 13 April, the 5 th meeting f the tripartite cmmissin Mali-Burkina Fas- UNHCR n the vluntary repatriatin f Malian refugees living in Burkina Fas tk place in Bamak. Wrk is nging t harmnize statistics, infrm candidates fr vluntary repatriatin n the presence f registratin pints and raise awareness n the cnditins fr civil registratin. Gap 94% Ppulatin f cncern (April 2017) IDP returnees (gv't) 487,011 Malian refugees 143,567 PRIORITIES IDPs (gv't) Refugee returnees (gv't) 58,985 58,315 7 partners targeted t receive supprt and capacity develpment fr the respnse f humanitarian needs f IDPs 1,000 Malian refugee returnees targeted t receive prductin kits fr agriculture/livestck/fishery activities 1,500 Mauritanian refugee children targeted t be enrlled in primary educatin 3,500 Mauritanian refugees targeted t receive prductin kits fr agriculture/livestck/fishery activities 400 urban husehlds targeted t receive cash grants Refugees in Mali (mixed rigin) Asylum Seekers (mixed rigin) 17,555 351 1
UPDATE ON ACHIEVEMENTS Operatinal Cntext UNHCR cntinues t perate in a vlatile security envirnment with the threat f terrrism, criminality and intercmmunity vilence affecting humanitarian access in nrthern and central Mali. In the nrth, vilatins f basic human rights are reprted and certain lcal ppulatins cntinue t lack access t public services, dcumentatin, water, educatin and fd security. Recent vilent clashes between armed grups and intercmmunity vilence in the cmmune f Gurma-Rharus in the regin f Timbuktu led t a ntable increase f IDPs frm 45 766 (February 2017) t 58,985 (April 2017). The threat f terrrism and criminality persists with natinal and internatinal security frces facing daily attacks in the nrthern and central regins. On 18 April, nn-identified armed men attacked a FAMA military camp in Gurma- Rharus lcated 116 km suth f the twn f Timbuktu, killing five sldiers, injuring dzens f thers and injuring tw civilians. In additin, seven vehicles were stlen and fur ther vehicles and military equipment were burned. A pursuit by the French cunter-terrrism frce, Barkhane, later neutralized the presumed terrrists. The Grup t Supprt Islam and Muslims (GSIM), which claimed this attack presents a cnstant menace fr the peace and stability f the cuntry. Mrever, its significant mbilizatin capabilities present a menace t the capital f Bamak which remains under the threat f ptential terrrist attacks. The central regins face a grwing presence f active extremist armed grups that present heightened challenges fr humanitarian access. The fragile prtectin envirnment is aggravated by the prliferatin f weapns, illicit drug trafficking and the absence r limited presence f state authrities in parts f the centre and nrth f the cuntry. The threats f IED, abductin f Westerners, extrtin f gds and carjacking remain prevalent cncerns in the nrth. On 23 April, a UNHCR vehicle was stlen by armed individuals in the cmmune f Ansng in the regin f Ga. While UNHCR s partners escaped an attempted carjacking by armed men in the twn f Timbuktu n 26 April. Mre frequent cases f stlen vehicles and carjackings have been bserved in the twn f Timbuktu. The slw implementatin f the Peace and Recnciliatin Accrd in the face f the slw cantnment and DDR prcess, the reinstallatin f authrities and heightened terrrism, cntinues t hinder the establishment f a mre cnducive prtectin envirnment fr the vluntary return f Malian refugees in security and dignity. On the plitical frnt, interim authrities were installed in Timbuktu and Taudeni n 20 April after several delayed attempts. The newly appinted Malian Prime Minister, Abdulaye Idrissa Maiga, annunced a new cabinet amid grwing scial tensins and strikes in the healthcare and educatin sectrs. A reslutin was fund ending the healthcare sectr strike, but the nging strike f schlteachers in public schls threatens t impact the rest f academic year. Achievements Prtectin Prtectin Cluster Train the Trainer n IDP Laws and Plicies: Between 24 t 28 April, UNHCR and the Organisatin Internatinal de Drit du Develppement (IDLO) rganized a Train the Trainer wrkshp n the elabratin f laws and plicies related t internal displacement. The training, held in Dakar, Senegal brught tgether representatives frm the 2
Prtectin Cluster, the Malian gvernment, civil sciety grups, UNHCR Mali and ther francphne cuntries in Africa. The bjective f the training was t familiarize future trainers with relevant tls and assist with the elabratin prcess fr laws and plicies n internal displacement in different cuntries. Fr Mali, it was recmmended t cntinue develping the law related t internal displacement. The humanitarian respnse t targeted attacks in mid-february that led t the internal displacement f 10,116 persns twards the regin f Segu remains slw. Amng several factrs, the limited number f humanitarian actrs lcated in the districts f Macina (Mpti) and Nin (Segu) has been bserved. A call was made fr Prtectin Cluster members t expand cverage in the regin f Segu and review pririty znes f interventin t better adapt t changes in crises affected areas. In Mpti regin, the reginal Prtectin Cluster participated in meetings held by an inter-cluster crdinatin missin. During these meetings, numerus challenges were highlighted at the reginal level including the mbilizatin and participatin f actrs, capacity building, delayed respnses t urgent crises, shrinking humanitarian access, the difficult terrain and insufficient financial resurces. An actin plan fr fllw-up by each cluster is currently being develped. In Ga regin, a wrking grup n scial chesin analyzed factrs related t reccurring tensins between cmmunities. It was recmmended that wmen need t be strngly implicated in decisin-making and the implementatin prcesses; lcal cmmunities need t be invlved and cnsulted all stages f scial chesin activities; gvernment authrities and traditinal authrities need t be restred and strengthened. Tripartite Cmmissin: On 13 April, the 5 th meeting f the tripartite cmmissin Mali-Burkina Fas-UNHCR n the vluntary repatriatin f Malian refugees living in Burkina Fas tk place in Bamak. Since the beginning f the year, Burkina Fas has nt rganized facilitated returns as a result f a lack f candidates amng Malian refugees. Wrk cntinues t harmnize statistics, infrm candidates fr vluntary repatriatin n the presence f registratin pints and raise awareness n the cnditins fr civil registratin. Repatriatin f Ivrian refugees: Between 19 t 23 April, UNHCR rganized a missin t survey the intentin t return f Ivrian refugees living in Sikass regin. 104 refugees (27 husehlds) expressed their intentin t Officials at the 5 th Meeting f the Tripartite Cmmissin Mali- Burkina Fas-UNHCR held in Bamak n 13 April. UNHCR Mali vluntary return in May 2017. There has been a 61% increase in the number f refugees expressing an intentin t return which can be explained in part by the encuraging news n the reintegratin f refugees wh previusly returned at the end f 2016 and in March 2017. A large number f refugees are expected t vluntarily repatriate at the end f the schl year in June/July 2017. Repatriatin f Central African refugees: Tw refugees frm the Central Republic f Africa were prvided with assistance fr their vluntary repatriatin n 27 April. Increasing requests fr repatriatin amng Central African refugees has been bserved, attributable t the grwing perceptin f a return t peace and stability in numerus lcalities in the cuntry, ntably Bangui. Facilitatin assistance: 832 Malian refugees (166 husehlds) frm the Camp d Abala in Niger received facilitatin assistance fr their vluntary repatriatin t Mali whereby they returned principally t the cmmunes f Menaka and Anderambukane. Amng 122 children brn in Niger that were repatriated, 58 received birth certificates, 28 are in the prcess f establishing their birth certificates, while 36 whse births were nt previusly declared were referred 3
t authrities fr fllw-up. Furthermre, 298 Malian refugees (76 husehlds) in Mauritania als received facilitatin assistance fr their vluntary repatriatin t the cmmunes f Timbuktu and Ber. Dcumentatin: 33 fcus grups n the imprtance f birth certificates and declaratins were rganized by UNHCR s partner, Stp Sahel, fr Mauritanian refugees and hst cmmunity members in Kayes regin. Additinally, 145 birth certificates were distributed t Mauritanian refugees in different sites in the regin f Kayes. The pssessin f a birth certificate facilitates access t basic services such as educatin and health. In additin, fr thse signaling an intentin f vluntary integratin as a durable slutin, this will als facilitate their naturalizatin t ensure a smther lcal integratin. An infrmatin database set up in cllabratin with UNHCR s partner, AMSS, indicates that 282 registered refugee returnee children d nt have birth certificates and three children were brn in cuntries f asylum with birth certificates established in thse cuntries. The list f children will be shared with partners in the dmain f dcumentatin (NRC, Save the Children) t btain supplementary judgments and transcripts. SGBV: Kayes: 26 infrmatin sessins n harmful practices t the health f wmen and girls and the cnsequences f excisin and early marriage were held in 28 sites acrss the regin f Kayes. These sessins mbilized 766 persns including Mauritanian refugees and hst cmmunity members. The sessins aim t infrm and change behavirs t ensure the prgressive abandnment f vilence against wmen. As a result f these sessins, three persns wh have abandned the practice f excisin were identified and will benefit frm incme-generating supprt t pursue new livelihd activities. One SGBV survivr was identified and prvided with assistance alngside three persns with specific needs. Ga, Mpti and Timbuktu: 27 infrmatin sessins rganized by UNHCR s partner AMSS n the negative cnsequences f SGBV, including early and frced marriage were held in pririty cmmunes in Ga, Mpti and Timbuktu. The sessins, reaching 579 refugee returnees and hst cmmunity members, helped mbilize mre cmmunity members t cntribute t preventin effrts and respnses t SGBV. Scial chesin: Ga: 12 fcus grups n the theme f peaceful cexistence were carried ut in 9 sites acrss Ga regin reaching 259 peple including refugee returnees and lcal cmmunity members. The sessins aim t strengthen tlerance and peaceful cexistence between different cmmunities in the znes f return. Timbuktu: 11 fcus grups n the themes f scial chesin were carried ut in six sites acrss Timbuktu regin reaching 235 persns including refugee returnees and lcal cmmunity members. Mpti: Fur infrmatin sessins n the themes f unity and recnciliatin arund water pints were held reaching 440 persns including refugee returnees and lcal cmmunity members. Menaka: UNHCR is cntributing t a jint prject with UNDP and UNICEF t supprt scial chesin activities in the regin f Menaka. UNHCR, thrugh its partner Terres Sans Frntieres, is supprting wmen s assciatin cmpsed f members frm refugee returnee and hst cmmunities t pursue agricultural and vegetable gardening activities with the aim f strengthening scial chesin between different cmmunities and supprting a durable reintegratin fr refugee returnees. Scial cunselling: During the weekly receptin sessin fr refugees and asylum seekers at the UNHCR representatin in Bamak, 26 refugees received cunselling. Majr cncerns relate t transprt dcumentatin, scial assistance, health issues and financial assistance. Certain cases were referred t partners fr assistance. Prtectin Mnitring: With the aim f imprving the prtectin envirnment in znes f return, prtectin mnitring agents registered 106 prtectin incidents in April thrughut the regins f Ga, Menaka, Timbuktu, Mpti and Kidal. Key issues revlved arund extrtin, frced marriages, injuries, rbberies and death threats. It is bserved that cases f extrtin generally ccur n majr highways, particularly n market days. The principal factrs 4
cntributing t the fragile prtectin envirnment relate t the prliferatin f weapns, the limited presence f authrities and security frces in the nrth and centre f the cuntry. Since January 2017, 256 prtectin incidents have been registered. Prtectin mnitring cntinues t face challenges due t the limited number f prtectin mnitrs n the field as a result f limited funds, and the challenging security envirnment. Registratin: As at 30 April, the Cmmissin de Muvement de Ppulatins (CMP) registered 1,721 Malian refugees wh vluntarily returned t Mali since the beginning f 2017. In ttal, there are 58 315 Malian refugees wh have returned since August 2013 despite the vlatile security cnditins that d nt yet permit fr an rganized return. Shelter and Nn-Fd Items Shelter/NFI cluster The Natinal Crdinatr fr the Shelter Cluster cnducted a missin t Mpti between 18 t 21 April t meet with active Cluster members t discuss prjects and challenges as well as participate in an inter-cluster crdinatin (ICC) meeting. The key issues highlighted include access due t insecurity, the need fr an exercise t identify needs and gaps with respect t the restratin f shelters and the distributin f traditinal shelters, the need t update the 4W matrix and advcacy t gvernment and technical partners fr a mre sustainable slutin fr specific and recurring issues such as flding. The identificatin and evaluatin f needs fr vulnerable husehlds affected by the crisis in nrthern Mali wh are in need f shelter assistance is underway by UNHCR s partners (Stp Sahel, TSF and Red UNHCR and its partners Red Crss Luxemburg/Red Crss Mali cnduct a field visit fr shelter activities in Timbuktu. UNHCR Mali Crss Luxemburg) in the regins f Mpti, Ga and Timbuktu. The implementatin f shelter activities faces nging challenges in Mpti due t frequent security incidents in the znes f return. Educatin UNHCR, thrugh its partner Stp Sahel, delivered furniture and equipment fr literacy centers in the regin f Kayes t imprve the learning envirnment fr Mauritanian refugees and hst cmmunity members. One f the key challenges relates t the participatin f wmen and girls at the literacy centers due t their heavy respnsibilities with respect t dmestic wrk. UNHCR, thrugh its partner Stp Sahel, 10 carts t eight refugee sites t assist Mauritanian refugee children t better access schl sites t pursue their educatin. There remain majr challenges fr Mauritanian refugee children t access educatin as a result f lng distances between schl sites and residences, the lack f birth certificates that hinder enrllment prcesses, absence f schl canteens and limited equipment in schls, amng ther issues. There are ver 4,000 schl aged Mauritanian refugee children (5 11 years ld), and apprximately 38.5% have received supprt fr enrllment thrugh UNHCR and its partners between 2012 and 2016. Health Study n Health Insurance fr Urban Refugees: With the aim f imprving the health status f urban refugees, an evaluatin reprt n healthcare plans was validated n 21 April by all actrs invlved in the management f healthcare assistance including CNCR, HCR, UTM and URM. 5
Health Insurance fr Mauritanian refugees: 11 sensitizatin sessins n the imprtance f health insurance were held in seven sites in the regin f Kayes reaching 157 persns including 138 Mauritanian refugees and 19 hst cmmunity members. This allwed fr the registratin f 46 husehlds (127 persns) t health insurance plans. This aims t help husehlds gain access t quality health care at a mre affrdable rate. Medical assistance: Eight persns with specific needs amng the urban refugee cmmunity received assistance thrugh UNHCR s partner, Stp Sahel, t address chrnic illnesses and medical treatments. Family planning: Infrmatin sessins n the advantages f family planning and different methds f cntraceptin were held in Kayes regin t help ppulatins f cncern understand ptins fr their wn planning. The sessins reached 181 peple including Mauritanian refugees and hst cmmunity members. As a result f these sessins, tw persns with specific needs were identified and prvided with medical assistance. Water and Sanitatin In Ga, amng three water pints t be restred, ne has been identified and tw remain t be dne. In Mpti, 240 refugee returnees and hst cmmunity members participated in fur awareness sessins t discuss hygiene and sanitatin issues arund water pints, including waste management, water-brne diseases and unity and recnciliatin arund water pints. Fd Security and Nutritin Ga: UNHCR successfully advcated t its partner Wrld Fd Prgramme (WFP) t include 1,535 facilitated refugee returnees (335 husehlds) wh returned frm Burkina Fas and Niger in Nvember 2016 t receive fd assistance. Cmmunity Empwerment and Self-Reliance Cash grants fr refugee returnees: Identificatin activities are underway by UNHCR s partner, Mercy Crps, t identify and register eligible refugee returnees wh will receive cash grants t supprt their basic needs and their reintegratin within lcal cmmunities. The identificatin prcess has faced challenges as a result f the n-ging insecurity and the nmadic lifestyle f refugee returnees. Self-reliance activities: Kayes: Cnstructin n eight chicken cps in nine sites is cmplete and the cnstructin f cereal banks in eight sites is underway in the regin f Kayes. These activities supprt cmmunity-based livelihd prjects fr Mauritanian refugees and hst cmmunity members. These activities have mbilized strng interest frm cmmunity members wh are increasingly participating and prviding funds t realize infrastructure prjects. Ga, Timbuktu and Mpti: Identificatin and evaluatin activities are underway t identify assciatins that include wmen and yuth, alngside individuals amng refugee returnees, IDPs, IDP returnees and hst cmmunity members that are mst in need f livelihd assistance. The areas f assistance include trainings, cash grants and equipment fr agricultural and pastral activities, retail, micr-businesses and entrepreneurship, amng ther sectrs. Ecnmic challenges: Urban refugees cntinue t evke n-ging cncerns with the lack f ecnmic pprtunities in the lcal jb market that impedes their ability t becme mre self-reliant and autnmus. Restricted funding cntinues t limit UNHCR s assistance in this dmain. 6
Wrking in partnership 7
FINANCIAL INFORMATION UNHCR is grateful fr the critical supprt prvided by dnrs that have cntributed t this peratin. 2017 funding in USD Japan $1,292,000 Sweden $885,054 CERF $429,022 We wuld like t extend a special thanks t the majr dnrs f unrestricted and reginal funds in 2017 including: United Australia, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Nrway, Private Dnrs Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United States f America Thanks t ther dnrs f unrestricted and reginal funds in 2017: Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bsnia and Herzegvina, Canada, Csta Rica, Estnia, Finland, Iceland, Indnesia, Ireland, Krea, Kuwait, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Mnac, Mrcc, New Zealand, Qatar, Singapre, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Zambia and Private Dnrs. 8
ANNEXES Mali situatin map Cntacts: Isabelle Michal, External Relatins Officer, michal@unhcr.rg, Tel: +223 75997262 Thu Trang Nguyen, Assciate Reprting Officer, nguyen@unhcr.rg, Tel: +223 75998907 Mahamadu Diall, Public Infrmatin Assistant, diallmah@unhcr.rg, Tel: +223 94945268 Links: Mali Situatin UNHCR prtal UNHCR Mali Facebk - UNHCR Mali Twitter 9