The security situation in Mali is severely affecting border areas with Mauritania, Senegal, and Guinea. REACH reported that 97% of assessed localities in Tombouctou and 73% in Ségou were impacted by insecurity, with significant flooding and market price increases further straining local communities. Displacement has also risen, with some areas experiencing over 50% of residents leaving due to these ongoing crises.
The deteriorating security situation in Mali is significantly impacting the border areas of Mauritania, Senegal, and Guinea, as identified by REACH’s Humanitarian Situation Monitoring in the Central Sahel. Between July and October 2024, a staggering 97 percent of assessed localities in Tombouctou and 73 percent in Ségou reported being affected by one or more forms of insecurity, violence, or looting. Particularly alarming is that all surveyed localities in Goundam and Gourma-Rharous circles were impacted.
Additionally, the Niafunké circle along the Mauritania border saw 97 percent of localities affected. The monitoring revealed that flooding and sudden increases in basic market prices compounded the issues, with flooding impacting 72 percent of localities in Tombouctou and 62 percent in Ségou, while market prices affected 58 percent and 43 percent of localities respectively.
Furthermore, the data indicated that displacement has become a concerning trend, with key informants noting that 34 percent and 23 percent of assessed localities in Tombouctou and Ségou had experienced population movements. Although most people were displaced within the same region and often did not exceed 25 percent of the locality’s population, 24 percent of localities in Ségou reported that over 50 percent of their populations had fled or left.
These findings underscore the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and intervention in the affected regions, given the complex interplay of conflicts, environmental challenges, and economic strains impacting local communities.
In summary, the deteriorating security situation in Mali poses severe repercussions for the bordering areas of Mauritania, Senegal, and Guinea. The prevalence of violence, looting, and displacement, exacerbated by environmental challenges such as flooding and rising market prices, highlights the urgent humanitarian needs that must be addressed to stabilize the region and support affected communities.
Original Source: www.unocha.org
