MALI SITUATION UNHCR REGIONAL UPDATE June – August 2016

KEY FIGURES HIGHLIGHTS 134,817 UNHCR strives to strengthen its data collection and analysis system on Malian refugees in , . , protection issues in the northern regions of , despite increased access constraints resulting from mounting security concerns; . In Burkina Faso, UNHCR continues to promote new approaches to refugee 15,149 livelihoods and self-reliance through entrepreneurship development and Total number of returned refugees in enhancement of refugees’ role within “value chains”; Mali in need of cash assistance . Mauritania, Mali and UNHCR signed a Tripartite Agreement on 16 June to facilitate the voluntary repatriation, when conditions allow, of the 41,700 Malian refugees currently hosted in the country; 33,042 . In Niger, an electronic voucher system was introduced in Mangaize camp by IDPs in Mali UNHCR and WFP for the purchase of food, allowing refugees to satisfy their individual household needs, giving them choice and flexibility in the purchase of items. FUNDING 192,785 persons of concern (as of end of September, 2016) USD 106.7 million required by UNHCR for the situation in IDPs in Mali 33,042 2016

Funded Refugees in Niger 60,792 30%

Gap Refugees in Mauritania 41,798 70% Refugees in Burkina 32,227 Faso

Refugee returnees in Mali (UNHCR verified) 24,843 PRIORITIES . Mali: undertake protection monitoring in the north and the centre; monitor and support Mali, Mauritania vulnerable returnees with cash- and UNHCR assistance; advocate for adequate sign a Tripartite Agreement for access to education for all the safe returnee children. repatriation of thousands of . Burkina Faso: strengthen support Malian refugees. to refugees’ self-reliance; reinforce © UNHCR / peaceful coexistence; sustain S.Laroze refugees’ access to national systems. . Mauritania: continue support to refugees’ self-reliance; promote peaceful; maintain the education response. . Niger: promote peaceful coexistence between host communities and refugees; scale up the shelter response as well as livelihoods and self-reliance programmes.

Mali Situation | UNHCR Regional Update | June – August 2016

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Operational Context Serious security challenges in Mali continue to obstruct humanitarian access and protection of civilians –

. Northern Mali’s complex security environment is characterized by renewed threats of armed conflict and ongoing intercommunity violence. This affects the protection environment that remains precarious with several human rights violations aggravated by the prolonged absence of state authorities. Persistent attacks against Malian and international forces, resumption of clashes between pro-governmental forces GATIA (Groupe d’Autodéfense Touareg Imghad et Alliés) and elements of the former rebel CMA (Coordination des Mouvements de l’Azawad) as well as increased intercommunal violence continue to be reported. In particular, fighting in the region of Kidal has led to an observed increase in the overall number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) between June (37,801) and July (39,182). Within this context that the United Nations Security Council renewed the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) on 29 June for one more year, authorizing a more “robust and proactive posture” in protecting civilians against asymmetric threats. This renewal also comes just a year after armed groups signed up a peace accord with the government in Bamako.

. The slow implementation of the peace agreement continues to fuel the volatile security situation in central and northern Mali, which in turn further hampered progress on its implementation and humanitarian access. Criminality along major routes in the north, particularly Gao-Ansongo-Ménaka and Timbuktu-Goundam, continues to affect access to persons of concern for the delivery of life-saving protection and assistance by agencies as there are no alternative transportation routes in the region. Also, the risk of improvised explosive devices affects road movements on major access routes in the north and increasingly in the centre of Mali. This is further constrained by poor weather conditions with the onset of the rainy season which has rendered certain highways inaccessible. UNHCR continues to advocate for the need to uphold humanitarian principles to create an operational space in which humanitarian organisation could work independently.

– also affecting neighbouring countries and triggering refugee outflows

. In Niger, the security situation along the border with Mali is fluid to the security environment in neighbouring countries due to porosity and displacement from one side to another. On 19 August, an incursion of about 200 armed motorcyclists from Mali was reported in the north of Ouallam, close to the border, following clashes between Daoussak and Fulani groups. Military escorts continue to be required for all travel in the regions of Tillabery and Tahoua hosting Malian refugees, whilst border

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – www.unhcr.org 2 Mali Situation | UNHCR Regional Update | June – August 2016

monitoring missions continue to be limited. During the month of August, some 1,500 Malian refugees arrived to the camp of Abala from the north of Mali in extremely precarious conditions. New arrivals cite the resurgence of inter-communal conflict, and conflicts between GATIA and CMA, and fear of reprisals as their reasons for fleeing.

Protection MALI

. Since June 2016, UNHCR with local partner Association Malienne pour la Survie Sahel (AMSS) has been strengthening its protection monitoring programme in the area of data collection and analysis with the aim of fostering a more favourable protection environment for returnees. Thus far, 266 protection incidents have been identified among displaced and host community members in the northern regions of Kidal, Menaka, Mopti and Timbuktu with the large majority of incidents recorded in the Gao region. The top three issues relate to extortion, injuries and deaths. Other issues include sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, robberies, theft and illegal occupation. Several incidents have been referred to partners for urgent response and incidents are being shared with Protection Cluster members for further response. BURKINA FASO

. In Burkina Faso, UNHCR country representative met with President Roch Marc Christian Kabore on 27 July to advocate for the signing of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. NIGER

. In July, UNHCR provided a four-day training on the international and national framework for refugee protection, refugee status determination procedures and other protection measures to lawyers of the Bar Association and magistrates and investigating judges of the special Anti-Terrorism Cell in Niger. On 30 August, UNHCR formalised its partnership with Niger Bar Association by signing an agreement aiming to facilitate the provision of legal aid to refugees in Niger.

Education MAURITANIA

. In Mbera refugee camp, 103 students had access to the Diplôme d’Etudes Fondamentaux (DEF) examinations in compliance with the Malian curriculum, while another 175 candidates attended examination sessions in June to pass their high school diploma. Refugees’ access to national examinations is essential to ensure the best conditions to repatriate, when they will decide to do so, or facilitate their integration into the Malian society. Final exams also took place in June for some 5,000 students of the six primary schools in Mbera camp. NIGER

. In August, UNHCR and the University of Tahoua signed an agreement on the provision of tertiary education for Malian students enabling access to higher education for refugees Students check their results following DEF exams sessions in Mbera camp. in Niger. In the ‘refugee hosting area’ of Intikane, the NGO © UNHCR / H.S. Yakara Hed-Tamat gave a donation of CFA 6 million (approximately US$ 10,200) to support the school canteens and provide a small stipend for school teachers. This is the first time that a national NGO has made such a major contribution to support the activities established by UNHCR, supporting both the refugee and host populations.

Food Security and Nutrition BURKINA FASO

. Ahead of the end of Ramadan, WFP distributed dates to 26,700 Malian refugees hosted in camps and out of camp settings in addition to the monthly food and cash assistance provided to refugees living in camps. In July, while funding shortfalls prevented WFP’s cash distribution, 24,500 refugees received CFA 4,000 each for the month, equivalent to US$7, provided by the national NGO Organisation Catholique pour le Développement et la Solidarité (OCADES). Until June 2016, a large majority of the most vulnerable refugees used WFP’s monthly food and cash assistance as a way not only to feed their households but also to access credit from local traders. UNHCR remains concerned that WFP’s announcement earlier this year to cease its general food distribution to Malians will have negative consequences on refugees’ capacity to withstand shocks in the short and medium term.

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MAURITANIA

. For the first time in Mbera camp, a cash component was introduced to the monthly food distribution. From June to August, all refugees received a food ration composed of rice, oil, salt and pulses as well as a nutritional supplement. Each refugee also received a cash transfer of 1,500 Mauritanian Ouguiya equivalent to 30 percent of the food basket value and representing approximately US$4.20. Results of the post-distribution monitoring, conducted by WFP in the camp in July highlighted that the introduction of cash allowed refugees to diversify their diets by acquiring complementary commodities. NIGER

. In August, an electronic voucher system was jointly introduced by UNHCR and WFP for the purchase of food in Mangaize camp. The system consists of an individual magnetic card per household which contains details of the household and is automatically recharged every month. This allows refugees to satisfy their individual household needs, giving them choice and flexibility in the purchase of items. It also reduces waiting times and paperwork, and increases autonomy and dignity of the beneficiaries.

. In the camp of Tabareybarey and the ‘refugee hosting area’ of Intikane, UNHCR and WFP have begun to shift from general to targeted assistance based on household needs. This prioritisation exercise will allow to differentiate those who can sustain themselves from the most vulnerable. Surveyors and local guides have begun an exhaustive door-to-door data collection to record the socio-economic characteristics of each household. After the data collection, UNHCR and WFP will provide a first classification of households. Targeting criteria include socio-economic and protection indicators.

Shelter and Non-Food Items MALI

. UNHCR, through its partners Luxembourg Red Cross in Timbuktu and Stop Sahel in Gao and Mopti, have rehabilitated and constructed 303 (out of 450) mud shelters and 322 (out of 400) traditional shelters to help IDPs, returning refugees and vulnerable host community members affected by the crisis to regain self-reliance, dignity and security of shelter. In terms of mud shelters, 110 out of 220 planned houses have been completed in Timbuktu, likewise 123 out of 130 in Gao and 70 out of 100 in Mopti. With respect to traditional shelters, 180 out of 180 planned houses have been completed in Timbuktu, similarly 116 out of 120 in Gao and 26 out of 100 in Mopti. Each beneficiary eligible for mud shelter assistance also receives a tool kit, material and cash assistance of CFA 50,000 (approximately US$85) to cover labour costs. The traditional shelters are self- built with beneficiaries receiving shelter tool kits to assist with the construction. MAURITANIA

. A general Non-Food Items distribution took place between 25 and 28 July where UNHCR provided more than 17,000 rugs, buckets and jerry cans, more than 82,600 bars of soap, 23,000 mosquitos’ nets and 13,000 basins. Also, as part of an ongoing effort to replace deteriorated shelters as well as accommodate new arrivals, UNHCR distributed 2,907 tents in Mbera camp.

Water and Sanitation and Health BURKINA FASO

. Maintaining robust and sufficient water supply and sanitation systems has been challenging in the main refugee hosting area in the north- west, exposed to harsh climate conditions. During the reporting period, UNHCR and its partner African Initiative for Relief and Development (AIRD) undertook maintenance works of water pumps, which enable each Malian to access, on average, 17.6 litres of water every day in Mentao camp, and 15 litres on average in Goudoubo camp. These quantities however are not enough to meet the minimum humanitarian standard of 20 litres per person per day. In addition, UNHCR in partnership with International Emergency and Development Aid (IEDA), conducted a hygiene and sanitation campaign in both refugee camps during which 9,450 soaps were distributed. A Malian refugee family inside their shelter shattered by a violent windstorm in Goudoubo refugee camp, in Burkina Faso’s northern Sahel region, subject to harsh climate conditions - © UNHCR / P. Absalon

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MAURITANIA

. Works have started for the construction and rehabilitation of more than 1,000 latrines in Mbera camp. Between June and August, 215 new latrines were constructed and 341 latrines rehabilitated. Furthermore, UNHCR and its partners continue to carry out mass sensitization activities to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases. During the reporting period, more than 12,000 people were reached by sensitization activities, such as door-to-door informative sessions, jerry can cleaning, and film projections. NIGER

. A large batch of medicinal products composed of 113 boxes of medications was delivered to Abala Integrated Health Centre to reinforce the government’s efforts in the framework of the provision of primary health care to host populations and refugees. This is particularly important given the increase in the camp population during the reporting period.

Self-Reliance and Peaceful Coexistence MALI

. UNHCR, through its partner Mercy Corps, achieved its initial target of distributing a one-time cash assistance to 6,016 refugee returnees in the regions of Gao (2,939), Mopti (822) and Timbuktu (2,255) to assist with coverage of self-determined basic needs in order to promote their safe and swift reintegration in their communities.

. UNHCR is promoting the sustainable reintegration of returned refugees and peaceful coexistence between returned refugees and host communities by supporting income-generating activities (vegetable gardening, agriculture, pastoral farming, micro- finance initiatives etc.) in the regions of Gao, Mopti and Timbuktu. In the region of Gao, 100 returned refugees and host community members have been identified and are receiving training and financial assistance to carry out micro income- generating initiatives. In the region of Gao and Menaka, 108 goats have been distributed (72 in Gao, 36 in Menaka) to support the pastoral farming activities of 96 beneficiaries from 12 women’s associations. In Mopti, 85 returned refugees in the commune of Douentza were selected to receive training in the areas of farming, small business management and handicrafts. BURKINA FASO

. The milk and artisan value chain livelihood projects have moved into the second and third phases focusing on entrepreneurial development and market entry. A total of 180 Malian pastoral households were trained on basic notions of entrepreneurship. Refugees were assisted to develop business plans supporting the setting up of small enterprises related to yogurt sales, farming and resale, animal feed, and livestock trade. The funding strategy includes mandatory contributions and a saving component. A second round of training planned for November will scale up entrepreneurial support.

. In partnership with the social enterprise Afrika Tiss/Design for Peace, 12 prototypes of unique artisanal products developed by six French designers and 17 Malian refugee artisans explore together new coloring techniques in the artisanal center of Goudoubo refugee camp, home to 9,645 Malian refugees © UNHCR / P. Absalon Malian refugee were successfully showcased in Ouagadougou and Paris as well as through a crowdfunding campaign. A product catalogue was designed and developed for other artisanal products created specifically to enter the international market and to be presented. Through a joint UNHCR/International Trade Centre initiative, 40 refugee women were also trained and expected to be integrated into the artisan value chain as suppliers of raw materials for leather goods. UNHCR recently purchased two industrial leather dyeing drums that will allow refugee artisans to make their products with leather, meeting colour and consumer demands within international home decor markets. MAURITANIA

. Following the launch of the tree planting campaign “a refugee for a tree”, 26,700 plants were distributed in Mbera camp for reforestation. Given the pressure from hosting Malians on the scarce resources in the desert area of Bassikounou, environmental sensitization is key to promoting a sustainable management of natural resources. Also, in an effort to strengthen peaceful coexistence between refugees and the host community in the Bassikounou region, UNHCR and NGO partner SOS Desert continue to carry out small-scale projects aimed at improving living conditions in villages surrounding the camp. Between June and August, 1,982 NFIs were distributed to host communities in four neighbouring villages.

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NIGER

. In Mangaize camp, UNHCR is piloting a ‘contract approach’ to support refugees in generating income and to boost livelihood activities. Refugees accept to receive a monthly cash-grant of CFA 10,000 (approximately US$18) over 18 month aims before a definitive cessation of assistance at the end of the project phase. A recent study from the Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP) – a partnership of humanitarian actors engaged in policy, practice and research within cash transfer programming – showed positive impacts of this programme on beneficiaries’ economic situation and the local economy. However additional funding will be required to scale up the intervention to other areas hosting Malian refugees.

Durable Solutions MALI

. Between June and August, some 2,200 refugee returnees benefited from facilitation assistance to support their voluntary return from the asylum countries of Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger. Since the start of the year, close to 6,400 Malian refugees have benefited from this assistance. MAURITANIA

. On 16 June 2016, Mauritania, Mali and UNHCR signed a Tripartite Agreement to ensure the best return conditions of Malian refugees and their reintegration in their country of origin. In June, UNHCR and its partner the World Lutheran Foundation facilitated voluntary return for 418 Malians, most of them came from the region of Timbuktu in northern Mali. Returnees received a repatriation cash assistance for transportation. More than 1,800 refugees from Mbera camp have returned to Mali in 2016. BURKINA FASO

. During the reporting period, UNHCR facilitated the repatriation of some 520 Malian refugees hosted in camps. NIGER

. Early June, a series of tripartite meetings between UNHCR, Mali and Niger governments took place in Niamey in which the voluntary repatriation of Malians living in Niger was discussed and concluded that parts of the north of Mali are not yet conducive to large-scale returns in safety and in dignity. That said, the first repatriation of refugees from the ‘refugee hosting area’ of Intikane took place during the month of July; 9 households of 53 persons were assisted to voluntarily repatriate, bringing the total number assisted to voluntarily repatriate to 2,194 in 2016. . The ‘urbanization project’ will provide 400 refugee households of Tabareybarey camp with the opportunity to settle permanently and legally in the town of Ayorou on land parcels developed by the regional and communal authorities, with the support of UNHCR and implementing partners. This project is in the final phase, while the selected beneficiaries will move to their newly acquired parcels in the final quarter of 2016.

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP

. In Mali, UNHCR continues to provide leadership in the Protection Cluster in Mali. On 27 July, the National Protection Cluster held a training session in Bamako for the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the integration of the Kampala Convention into Mali’s regulatory framework with an aim to better protect IDPs. On 5 August, the Protection Cluster in Timbuktu met with the regional government authority overseeing the promotion of women and children to discuss ways to reinforce and reinvigorate the SGBV/Child Protection sub-cluster in Timbuktu. As leader of the Shelter Cluster in Mali, the national Shelter Cluster approved a harmonized needs assessment form and in Timbuktu, the shelter sub-cluster analyzed contingency stocks revealing that the stock of emergency shelter or NFI items is depleted among most humanitarian partners and authorities. During her first visit to the field offices of Gao and Timbuktu, UNHCR’s new Representative, Ms. Angèle Djohossou, held meetings with the Governors and government officials of Gao, Timbuktu and the new region of Taoudéni, UN sister agencies, operational partners, returned refugees and other beneficiaries to discuss humanitarian access, analyze unmet needs and reinforce common actions and joint projects

. In Niger, the ECHO Director of Operations carried out a mission in August, to the camp of Tabareybarey where she visited UNHCR and partners’ projects. She also visited the site of the “urbanization project” in Ayorou city, where approximately 2,000 refugees will settle, having been provided with legal access to land parcels where they can permanently settle.

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FINANCIAL INFORMATION

UNHCR’s total financial requirements for the Mali Situation, involving operations in Mali and neighbouring countries (Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Niger) amount to USD 106.7 million from January to December 2016, including USD 66.7 million for the response in asylum countries. As at 6 October 2016, the overall funding gap is USD 74.2 million.

Consequences of underfunding

The lack of funding forces UNHCR and partners to make difficult decisions, further prioritising the implementation of life-saving programmes as well as those aiming to reduce Malian refugees’ dependency on humanitarian assistance.

In Mali, given the strong needs for cash assistance among refugee returnees, UNHCR had initially considered increasing its initial target of supporting 6,000 to 10,000 returnees to receive cash assistance by the end of the year. However, due to a shortage of funds, this assistance will not be possible, while the total number of returned refugees have not received cash assistance stands at 15,149. Cash assistance provides a critical life-saving boost for those with meagre basic resources to acquire basic needs and prevents some from turning toward negative coping strategies that could heighten their vulnerabilities.

In Burkina Faso, UNHCR is unable to meet shelter needs of 1,200 households in camps because of limited resources, leaving many families without proper shelter to face harsh environmental conditions in the northern, desert region of the Sahel where the vast majority of refugees are settled.

In Mauritania, 100 students having successfully completed secondary school would like to continue their studies at university level, but UNHCR lacks the necessary resources to fund their scholarship programme and expand their studying opportunities. In addition, while efforts being made to replace and construct new toilet facilities in Mbera refugee camp, UNHCR does not have sufficient funds to complete the works for all latrines that need to be replaced. Overstretched latrines can cause the spread of epidemics in the camp, raising health concerns among the refugee population. Moreover, as the situation in northern Mali continues to trigger refugee outflows into Mauritania, additional donor contributions are required to meet unforeseen shelter needs.

Donors: Funding:

CERF European Union A total of USD 32.4 million has been contributed France Funding Funding Gap Japan Sweden Mali 1.9 38 United States UN Peacebuilding Fund UN Foundation Niger 3.3 25.5 Private individual donors (France) IKEA Foundation Fast Retailing (UNIQLO) Burkina Faso 5.01 16

Mauritania 3.9 13.1

Situation Overall 18.2

Contacts: Alan Mouton, Associate External Relations Officer, Regional Bureau for Africa, [email protected], +41 (0)22 739 8830 Julia Gouyou Beauchamps, Reporting Officer, Regional Bureau for Middle East and North Africa, [email protected], +41 (0)22 739 8892

Links: Mali situation Webportal | UNHCR Tracks | UNHCR Kora: Voices of Refugees in West and Central Africa

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