UPDATE n°4, 30/01/2013 CRISIS Internal EU ECHO CRISIS REPORT

SITREP NR. 8 - 2013 Period covered 18/01/2013 to 30/01/2013 1. Map

Time of validity 10:00 (UTC)

2. Summary Highlights

Very little information is available on the impact on the civilian population of European Commission – Humanitarian Aid and Civil the military intervention as operations continue and expand into the north. Protection French and have reached Leré, Ansongo, , Timbuktu B-1049 Brussels, Belgium and without meeting major resistance. Tel.: (+32 2) 295 44 00 Fax: (+32 2) 295 45 72 email: Access restrictions now appear to be gradually easing allowing humanitarian [email protected] agencies some access to the central part of Mali and permitting the delivery Website: http://ec.europa.eu/echo of aid. Humanitarian access remain the main concern for humanitarian community as it was underlined by EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid

ECHO Crisis Report – 30 January 2013 Page 1 of 4

and Civil Protection Kristina Georgieva during her visit to Bamako on 22/01, where she called on all parties to respect International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and give humanitarian workers access to those in need.

Since the start of military intervention on 11 January, OCHA have reported 15,208 new refugees (see map) and IOM are reporting 11,860 additional internally displaced (IDPs). These figures are partial as certain areas, such as Diabaly, could not be assessed due to restrictions on movements.

There are reports that prior to withdrawing, jihadists looted cereal banks and health centers in numerous locations and that following the recapture of Timbuktu stores belonging to alleged supporters of the jihadists were looted by the local population.

The closure of the Algerian border and restrictions on commercial trade due to insecurity are resulting in shortages and high prices of food and other basic commodities in the northern regions of Gao and Kidal. This is a major humanitarian concern as poor families are now struggling to feed themselves.

3. Humanitarian situation

Population movements . Many villages are reported to have been abandoned on the axis Lere-Timbuktu along the Mauritanian border. The local population is reported to be worried about the possible return of jihadists or reprisals by the army. . There are reports that many IDPs in the south are ready to return home when security and basic services are restored.

4. Needs assessment

Humanitarian access . Humanitarian access remains limited in areas directly affected by conflict or military deployment. Some humanitarian organizations have reduced their presence in the field, including in areas close to the Mauritanian border due to security concerns (risk of kidnapping and attacks by armed groups). . Access to and is now possible for humanitarian organizations and supply from the south to the north (-Gao road) is being reorganized. . The Algerian border remains officially closed. Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritanian borders remain open but are heavily militarized. . Phone network has been reestablished in Gao and Timbuktu since 28/01/13. . UNHAS is resuming flights to Mopti and Kayes as of 29/01/13.

Protection . Concerns over reported summary executions and human rights violations by military forces persist. The threat of ethnic based informal militias (Ganda Izo, Ganda Koy etc.) out to settle scores is considered very real. . A rapid assessment from 17-21/01, between Djenné and Konna, registered 7 unaccompanied children in the communes of Sio, Soye and .

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Mines/Unexploded ordinance (UXO) . Handicap International is proceeding with an evaluation of UXO in Konna. . ICRC has reported no recent incidents.

WASH . WASH partners are evaluating the potential impact of fuel shortages and looting of fuel on piped water systems which supply the principal towns affected by conflict (Timbuctu, Gao).

Needs assessments per Regions:

Gao region . The region is increasingly isolated as a result of the supply road being cut between Mopti and Gao. The closure of the Algerian border had reduced trade flows, including the import of food commodities. Supply has largely depended on transport via the river or from Niger. . Many traders have left Gao and moved their stocks out of the main towns. Most of the shops in Gao are closed and most markets are no longer being supplied by livestock herders. Markets in general are under-stocked or closed. . Prices have increased in the past week (millet from 275 to 380 FCFA/kg between 14-22/01; rice from 350 to 460 FCFA/kg; fuel from 600 to 1000 FCFA/litre). Cash liquidity is low as traders cannot move around and banks remain closed. Household purchasing power had drastically decreased in the past months and is now under even more pressure. Oxfam reports that many sources of income have been disrupted, and people are not able to earn as much money as before. In addition, most of the traditional coping strategies, such as selling assets or going into debt, have already been exhausted and households have nothing to rely on. . Livestock herders are keeping their animals further away from town to limit the risk of theft; access to pasture and surface water is limited because of insecurity. . Fear of new attacks or a deterioration of the situation in addition to a disrupted communication network and limited transportation possibilities have limited access to health structures for both staff and patients. . Medical and nutrition stocks are low and in need of urgent replenishment. . Population displacement is currently on a small scale with mainly Touareg and Arab families reportedly leaving as they fear arbitrary reprisals.

Mopti region . A number of NGOs are conducting child protection assessments in different areas of . . IOM continues to track displacements through flow monitoring points at bus and boat stations. . An NGO rapid assessment on the Djenné-Konna axis (17-21/01) found limited population movements from Konna and Douentza to various villages in the area and towards Mopti and Sévaré. Most IDPs are staying with host families. Health centers report shortages of medicines and medical material. Food supply is hampered by numerous controls on the main roads.

Kidal region . More affluent households have enough food left for approximately 10 days whereas the poorest already depend on external supplies. Most households do not possess cash to buy stocks. . Markets remain open with a supply of commodities, but with a limited number of traders who report stocks for 2 to 3 weeks. The trade flow is being impacted by the Algerian border closure and the supply of some commodities (such as millet) has started to be disrupted. The trade flow from Algeria has dropped by 40 to 50% (17/01). . Rapid increases in fuel (+17%) and gas (+14%) prices, mainly due to supply problems (closure of Algerian border, interruption of roads from the south, etc.). No major changes for cereal

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prices compared to December 2012, but further monitoring is needed as cereal supply depends for 94% on markets in this region.

5. Humanitarian Response

Protection . ICRC is working to raise the awareness of civil and military authorities with regard to their obligations under International Humanitarian Law (IHL). . The Protection Cluster is checking information on Human Rights violations and transmitting it to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. It also gathers information on unaccompanied children. . UN agencies have started ethics awareness programmes for 4,000 Malian military on the protection of women and girls.

Assistance . UN organizations such as UNICEF and WFP and some NGOs are preparing supply routes to the north along the Mopti-Gao road so far without encountering major obstacles. . UNHAS has resumed flights to Mopti and Kayes. . The ICRC and the Mali Red Cross are distributing emergency supplies including food and basic necessities to 7,000 IDPs in the central part of Mali, i.e. Niono, Kala, Mariko and Siguida. . MSF reached Konna on 24/01, performed 166 medical consultations in one day and intends to start mobile clinics in the coming weeks. . WASH partners have produced a list of at-risk piped water systems and efforts are underway to procure and distribute Aquatabs and purification units in the event of fuel shortages in towns affected by conflict.

DG ECHO . During her visit to Mali, Commissioner Georgieva confirmed the allocation of 20 M€ for immediate humanitarian interventions in . . DG ECHO Field experts in Mali and in the neighbouring states continue to monitor the situation closely and participate actively in coordination meetings. They are in constant contact with all partners to ensure the most appropriate and complete response to needs.

6. Coordination/Other Information

Civilian-military coordination is being put into place. Restrictions on access appear to be gradually lifted for humanitarian organizations but remain in place for journalists and private individuals.

The 2013 Consolidated Appeal for Mali has been launched today. Humanitarian agencies and the Government of Mali requested over US$370 million today to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to nearly 4.3 million. As of 29 January, less than $2.8 million had been committed.

During a donors meeting held in Addis Ababa on 29/01 over $455 million was pledged for the Mali crisis and the African intervention force AFISMA. Malian interim President of Mali, Dioncounda Traore, announced that his government would aim to organize “credible” elections for 31 July 2013.

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