Integrated Mission Report of MINUSMA, OCHA and WFP Timbuktu Joint

31.01.2018 Integrated mission report of MINUSMA, OCHA and WFP Timbuktu Joint mission of MINUSMA and humanitarian actors to assess the situation of refugees and other displaced people in Gossi on 31 January 2018 On 31 January 2018, a delegation of 19 people including the Head of Office MINUSMA Timbuktu (HoO), the Regional UNPOL Commander, JMAC, HRPD, CAD, PIO as well as OCHA and WFP, accompanied by national and international journalists, conducted a mission to Gossi from Timbuktu (by air to Gossi, escorted by MINUSMA Force and UNDSS in Gossi). The aim was primarily to assess the situation of refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and others who have reportedly moved in large numbers from the border region between Mali and Burkina Faso to Gourma-Rharous Cercle and particularly the surroundings of Gossi town. The first stop in Gossi was the Gendarmerie, which had been renovated through a MINUSMA QIP facilitated by UNPOL that was officially handed over at this occasion. The delegation was welcomed by the Sub-Prefect of Gossi, as well as the first and third Deputy Mayor (as the Mayor was traveling). According to the Sub-Prefect and the two Deputy Mayors, the influx of refugees and IDPs had rapidly increased in and around Gossi at the beginning of January 2018 and on 16 January, the “Commission Nationale Chargée des Réfugiés” (CNCR - National Commission in charge of refugees) conducted an assessment visit in the area. By now, the influx had led to a humanitarian crisis with around 4,000 households needing help. However, a civilian interlocutor in Gossi town mentioned that authorities might be attempting to inflate numbers to attract more aid.1 They explained that many were refugees from Burkina Faso, but that there were also Malians who had been living on both sides along the border between Mali and Burkina Faso among the displaced. According to the Sub-Prefect, these people had preventively fled unspecified military operations in the border region. From the Gendarmerie, the delegation moved further into Gossi town, for a brief official handover ceremony of the first aid that has reached the displaced and refugees in the surroundings of Gossi by WFP and its partner NGO Islamic Relief. 154 tons of food-items have reached Gossi from Gao, Timbuktu and Mopti, destined for 1,500 households. The final and main item on the itinerary was a visit to a site called Ezegar, approximately 5 km outside of Gossi town. The site contains about 300 households, predominantly “black Tamashek” (aka Bella) of Malian origin, although there were also some from Burkina Faso. They are living in difficult conditions (see pictures below). Most households have a small tent/makeshift cover and basic cooking equipment. They also claim to have a small number of animals each, which the men take care of during the day. This was given as an explanation for the fact that those present during the visit were mostly women and children. It should be noted 1 Prior to this, the latest figures indicated to OCHA and WFP had been of 1,500 to 1,700 households in need in those areas that had been accessible so far. Draft by Sven Güsmann, JMAC Timbuktu, approved by heads of office of MINUSMA Timbuktu, OCHA Timbuktu and WFP Timbuktu 31.01.2018 that the children were not currently going to school, and according to the refugees/IDPs themselves, only those from Burkina Faso might have had access to a school prior to moving. Several interlocutors mentioned that relatives or friends in Gossi town sometimes brought food to the site, but would not be able to host the people in Gossi town. According to the Sub-prefect, there were two similar sites in the close vicinity of Gossi, and many more in the wider surroundings. The sites were organized by ethnicity and there were other sites with predominantly Fulani inhabitants. He also added that in some of the sites, people refused to be identified and registered, which, he stressed, was a source of concern and the Malian authorities took as a possible symptom of infiltration by “jihadists”. Somewhat in contrast to the words of the Sub-Prefect, who was emphasizing military activities, most of the IDPs and refugees explained that they had fled banditry. It was also mentioned that there were some tensions among Fulani in the border region, as those who did not want to be associated with terrorism were trying to physically distance themselves from those collaborating with terrorists. While some interlocutors mentioned that they had been victims of banditry, none of the interlocutors met during the visit described any specific incident that made them or others flee. The main places of departure were Boulekessi (Mali) and Soum province (Burkina Faso), as well as Djibo among other localities. However, many were also Malians originally from the area around Gossi who had lived in Burkina Faso for a long time (prior to the 2012 crisis) and were now deciding to return in view of insecurity in Burkina Faso. Following the mission, a debriefing of all participants was held at Timbuktu Supercamp. OCHA signaled that for follow-up provision of humanitarian aid in the immediate future, Gao sector would be in the lead due to physical proximity to Gossi and easier access by road (compared to Timbuktu). WFP informed that it was awaiting the reports from the current aid distribution as well as of the ongoing census/registration conducted on different sites by UNHCR and CNCR before deciding on the next steps. Assessment: The visit confirmed much of the information reported by NGOs and other actors from the field. Living conditions of the displaced people are indeed of concern. While the delegation only visited one site, it is likely that there are indeed other sites and thus the overall number of households that have recently arrived in Gossi and the wider Gourma-Rharous cercle is significant. However, given the majority of the displaced are nomads, it is likely that they will move on once the rainy season begins. Hence, necessary assistance should be focused on improving the short-term situation rather than establishing fixed camps. As for the cause of the sudden increase in movements of people towards Gossi, there is still some uncertainty. All interlocutors are describing insecurity in the border region. However, some claim that banditry is the main reason, while others claim that recent military operations were the cause, possibly referring to the recent operation conducted by G5-Sahel in January in the border region. However, as no interlocutor mentioned a specific incident of military nature, Draft by Sven Güsmann, JMAC Timbuktu, approved by heads of office of MINUSMA Timbuktu, OCHA Timbuktu and WFP Timbuktu 31.01.2018 the move would have been pre-emptive, in anticipation of possible clashes or further deterioration. It is possible that anticipated military activities led to movement of criminal and terrorist elements, which may have affected the population, causing them to leave before the situation would get worse. At the same time, with the hottest time of the year approaching, the different water-ponds in the surroundings of Gossi are likely to have attracted the displaced to move all the way there. Tents in Ezegar site of displaced people near Gossi, 31.01.2018 Tents in Ezegar site of displaced people near Gossi, 31.01.2018 Draft by Sven Güsmann, JMAC Timbuktu, approved by heads of office of MINUSMA Timbuktu, OCHA Timbuktu and WFP Timbuktu 31.01.2018 Symbolic handover ceremony for aid from WFP at distribution centre in Gossi town, 31.01.2018 Draft by Sven Güsmann, JMAC Timbuktu, approved by heads of office of MINUSMA Timbuktu, OCHA Timbuktu and WFP Timbuktu .

Load more