MALI: Displaced populations take refuge in the Kidal region
The Kidal region, once the epicenter of the political and security crisis in Mali, has experienced a relative lull since 2019. However, for the past few months, Kidal has been facing the arrival of more and more displaced populations from the north and center of the country, due to the deterioration of the context in these areas. Indeed, some communities are forced to leave their villages and abandon their resources for security reasons, and take refuge in calmer regions such as Kidal.
Mobile clinic of Première Urgence Internationale, Intilbane health area, Kidal circle, September 2022| © Première Urgence Internationale
In September 2022, more than 650 households from Talataye (Ansongo circle, Gao region) took refuge in the Kidal region. In order to meet their health needs, Première Urgence Internationale’s mobile teams were deployed to the sites where the displaced persons were being received. Première Urgence Internationale teams carried out 257 free medical consultations at these sites during the month of September.
Discussion with Kadia, Kidal cercle | © Première Urgence Internationale
Kadia who lived in Talataye, testifies
PUI: Why did you come to seek help?
Kadia: The assailants broke into our town (Talataye) and massacred our husbands. They wanted to kill the young boys and abuse the young girls. We left the town running, without shoes, carrying young children on our backs. We walked for more than 30 kilometers, without water. After this long and painful walk, we found a herd of donkeys. This allowed us to facilitate the transport of the most fragile people. After a long week of walking, we were able to board trucks that allowed us to reach Amacine (Kidal region). We didn’t have any luggage because they burned everything.
We chose Kidal because we thought we would be safer there, so the fear that the enemies would catch up with us hasn’t dissipated yet. It was in Amacine that we realized that the people of Talataye were scattered, having survived the various killings of which they had been victims. Some have gone to Gao and others to Ansongo.
“We left the city running, without shoes, carrying young children on our backs”
PUI: What type of assistance did you receive?
Kadia : When we arrived we were disoriented, exhausted and under pressure. Imagine the bitterness felt by a parent who has lost a child, it is very difficult to overcome. Imagine the state of a woman whose husband is murdered in front of her. And the fact that we have to leave our land, where we grew up.
When we arrived at the site for the displaced, we were warmly welcomed. Several humanitarian actors visited us, including Première Urgence Internationale, who relieved our pain with rapid medical care. Your intervention gave hope to the most fragile people. These visits lifted our spirits after we had lost everything.
PUI : What type of assistance do you need?
Kadia : Shelter, food and education for our children are our most pressing needs at the moment. We do not plan to return home until peace returns.
Medical and nutritional care and vaccination of internally displaced persons by mobile teams from Première Urgence Internationale, Intilbane health area, Kidal circle © Première Urgence Internationale
With the participation of the Crisis and Support Center of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and ARCAD Santé Plus.
