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Mali: Mali seeks answers after deadly hotel siege

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Source: Agence France-Presse
Country: Mali

Bamako, Mali | AFP | Sunday 8/9/2015 - 12:00 GMT

Malian authorities Sunday sought to identify the perpetrators of a hotel siege that ended with the deaths of at least 12 people including five UN workers.

No one has claimed responsibility for the assault, which coincided with a surge in jihadist attacks in the region.

The drama began early Friday in the central town of Sevare when gunmen burst into the Hotel Byblos, frequented by expatriates.

The Malian army -- along with foreign special forces, according to a Malian military source -- stormed the building, bringing the siege to an end nearly 24 hours later.

Reports vary on the numbers and identities of those killed.

The UN mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said two Ukrainians, a Nepalese and a South African were killed during the siege and subsequent military operation, as well as a Malian driver working for a company contracted by the mission.

An army officer said "five terrorists" were killed in the operation as well as five soldiers and "two whites".

Four of the soldiers were buried in Sevare on Saturday, with the rural development and security ministers, Boukary Treta and Sada Samake, in attendance, a witness said.

Both the army and MINUSMA said the death toll could rise.

Soldiers on patrol

Meanwhile, residents said the army mounted patrols overnight following the siege.

Soldiers could be seen in Sevare as well as along the road to the nearby regional capital Mopti, a popular tourist destination and the gateway to Dogon Country, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A Sevare resident told AFP by telephone in Bamako that the night was calm. "People are starting to go about their business. Everything is returning to normal here in Sevare," he said.

Located some 12 kilometres (seven miles) from Mopti and 620 kilometres northeast of the capital Bamako, Sevare is a key staging post on the road to Mali's desert north which fell to Islamic extremists in 2012.

A French-led offensive routed Islamist groups from their northern strongholds the following year, but entire swathes of the desert region remain lawless.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon, France and the United States denounced the latest attack, which came as the former French colony is seeking to implement a June peace deal.

Jihadist attacks have long been concentrated in Mali's north, but began spreading early this year to the centre of the country, and in June to the south near the borders with Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.

Two attacks early this month in central and northern Mali left 13 soldiers dead.

"No region is being spared," said an opposition group, the Party for National Rebirth, led by former foreign minister Thiebile Drame.

"The arrogance and audacity of the aggressors seem to have no limits."

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© 1994-2015 Agence France-Presse


Mali: Terrorist attack in Sévaré – MINUSMA deplores the loss of lives

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Source: UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali
Country: Mali

MINUSMA is relieved at the successful conclusion early this morning of the operation carried out by the Malian forces and congratulates them on it.

MINUSMA reiterates its strong condemnation of the despicable terrorist attack that took place in Sévaré and deplores the loss of lives caused by this criminal act. The Mission extends its condolences to the Malian Government and the Malian Armed Forces, as well as to the governments and families of the victims, who include personnel of companies contracted by MINUSMA. It wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

The situation regarding the MINUSMA-associated personnel is as follows:

  • Four (4) were rescued at the Hotel Byblos as soon as the operation had ended and were taken to MINUSMA’s office in Sévaré, where they remain while waiting to be transferred to Bamako. They are nationals of South Africa (2), the Russian Federation (1) and Ukraine (1). They are all in good health. The attackers did not detect their presence in the hotel and MINUSMA was in permanent contact with them throughout the attack and until its end.

  • Five (5) lost their lives and an inquiry is underway to establish the exact circumstances of their death during the events: one Malian (a driver working for a company contracted by MINUSMA), one Nepalese, one South African and two Ukrainians. Arrangements are in place to take the victims’ bodies to Bamako.

MINUSMA will continue to cooperate and to coordinate its efforts very closely with the Malian authorities as well as with the representatives of the international community in Bamako in the context of the ongoing follow-up operations, including the Malian authorities’ investigations into the attack.

MINUSMA remains determined and dedicated to fulfilling its tasks in the implementation of its mandate in support of Mali, its government and its people.

Mali: Hôtel attaqué au Mali: 13 morts dont 5 contractuels de l'ONU et 4 soldats maliens (nouveau bilan)

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Source: Agence France-Presse
Country: Mali

Bamako, Mali | AFP | dimanche 09/08/2015 - 17:23 GMT |

Treize personnes, dont cinq contractuels de l'ONU, quatre soldats maliens et "quatre terroristes", ont été tuées lors de la prise d'otages vendredi dans un hôtel de Sévaré, dans le centre du Mali, selon un nouveau bilan communiqué dimanche par le gouvernement malien.

"Le bilan définitif" comprend "quatre soldats des Fama", les forces armées maliennes, "cinq contractuels de la Mission de l'ONU au Mali et quatre terroristes tués" durant les opérations lors de l'attaque de l'hôtel Byblos de Sévaré, a indiqué le gouvernement dans ce communiqué.

Les cinq contractuels de la Mission de l'ONU au Mali (Minusma) sont formés "d'un chauffeur malien, d'un Sud-Africain, de deux Ukrainiens et d'un Népalais".

En outre, "sept suspects ont été arrêtés" par les forces maliennes qui comptent "huit blessés" dans leurs rangs, selon le communiqué.

Par ailleurs, "quatre otages libérés" par l'armée malienne dont deux Ukrainiens, un Russe et un Sud-Africain sont "en bonne santé", selon la même source.

"Des enquêtes sont en cours en relation avec la Minusma et d'autres partenaires pour déterminer les facteurs liés à cette attaque et à son dénouement", a ajouté le gouvernement malien.

L'attaque de vendredi n'a pas été revendiquée depuis.

"De forts soupçons pèsent" sur le Front de libération du Macina (FLM), un "groupe terroriste qui tient à faire parler de lui par tous les moyens", a indiqué à l'AFP une source militaire jointe à Sévaré depuis Bamako.

Le Macina est une appellation traditionnelle d'une partie du centre du Mali.

Apparu début 2015, le FLM est présenté comme un groupe radical allié à Ansar Dine, dirigé par Iyad Ag Ghali. Ansar Dine est une des organisations jihadistes liées à Al-Qaïda qui ont contrôlé le nord du Mali près de dix mois entre 2012 et début 2013.

Le FLM qui recrute essentiellement dans la communauté peule et est mentionné dans des rapports de Human Rights Watch (HRW) et de l'ONU, a revendiqué plusieurs attaques visant surtout les forces de sécurité dans cette région centrale du Mali.

Des assaillants, non identifiés et dont le nombre demeure inconnu, ont fait irruption vendredi vers 05H00 (locales et GMT), selon le gouvernement, au Byblos de Sévaré, où séjournent régulièrement des expatriés.

Ils en ont été délogés dans la nuit de vendredi à samedi par les forces maliennes.

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© 1994-2015 Agence France-Presse

Mali: Gunmen kill 10 in attack on village in Mali - army spokesman

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Source: Reuters - AlertNet
Country: Mali

By Adama Diarra

BAMAKO, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Gunmen killed 10 civilians in an attack on the village of Gaberi in northern Mali, army spokesman said on Sunday, a day after a deadly siege by suspected Islamist gunmen at a hotel northeast of the capital.

Read the full article on Reuters - AlertNet

Nigeria: Suspected Boko Haram gunmen kill four in road ambush in Nigeria's Borno state

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Source: Reuters - AlertNet
Country: Nigeria

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed four people on Sunday in a road ambush in Nigeria's restive northeastern state of Borno, a military source and a civilian joint task force said.

Read the full article on Reuters - AlertNet

Mauritania: WFP Mauritania Brief: Reporting period: 01 April -30 June 2015

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Source: World Food Programme
Country: Mali, Mauritania

COUNTRY STRATEGY

WFP’s strategy for Mauritania (2011-2016) identifies three priorities, which were developed in consultation with the government, United Nations agencies and other partners.

These include: improve coordination and consultation; reduce risk and create national capacity to prepare for crises; and invest in human capital development through social protection. In 2015, WFP plans to provide food and nutrition assistance to 541,510 people to support their food security and encourage communities’ resilience building efforts through the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO).

WFP plans to provide a safety net to about 156,370 primary school children from food insecure and highly vulnerable households through the school meal programme.

In addition, WFP plans to provide lifesaving assistance to 52,500 Malian refugees in Mberra camp. WFP will continue to provide air support service to humanitarian organisations.
WFP has been present in Mauritania since 1964.

Mali: WFP Mali Brief: Reporting period: 01 April – 30 June 2015

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Source: World Food Programme
Country: Mali

COUNTRY STRATEGY

The WFP Country Strategy (2015 – 2017) aims to reduce food insecurity and undernutrition in Mali, progressing towards reaching the goals of the global Zero Hunger Challenge (ZHC).

WFP’s strategic priorities in Mali support the Government’s long term objectives of sustainable development, food and nutrition security. Given the volatile context in Mali, the first priority will be to save lives and protect livelihoods in an emergency context. At the same time, as the situation allows,
WFP will step up activities to rebuild livelihoods and strengthen the preparedness and response capacity of communities to future shocks. Safety nets for education and nutrition will be supported.

WFP has been present in Mali since 1964

Niger: WFP Niger Brief: Reporting period: 01 April – 30 June 2015

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Source: World Food Programme
Country: Mali, Niger, Nigeria

Summary of WFP assistance: WFP's assistance focuses on the vulnerable and very poor populations affected by food insecurity and high malnutrition. WFP currently provides food assistance through one protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO), two regional emergency operations and a special operation (SO) to manage the UN humanitarian air service programme.

WFP supports the government in implementing a multi-sectoral, integrated community based approach to household and community resilience aiming to reduce the impact of seasonal stresses and prevent a peak in acute malnutrition and mortality. The innovative integrated response comprises of food assistance for asset projects (through food and cash modalities), coupled with nutrition prevention and treatment activities, school meals and related programmes (such as school vegetable gardens and local milling and processing initiatives). Activities are implemented in the pre-and post-harvest period to assist rural communities in revitalising infrastructure, improving agricultural production and diversifying rural incomes. Activities are also linked to the promotion of local production and purchases. The joint government and WFP programming is geographically targeted and aimed at supporting the same vulnerable beneficiaries through a flexible combination of conditional and unconditional food assistance all year round. The sequenced assistance is necessary to protect achievements during the most difficult period over the year and build resilience over time.

The Regional emergency operation (EMOP) supports Malian refugees and returnees in camps and hosting sites in areas of Niger which were already chronically food insecure. WFP provides Targeted Food Assistance (TFA), through food and voucher modalities and Blanket Supplementary Feeding (BSF) to children 6-59 months.

Another EMOP provides flexible assistance through targeted food distributions and nutritional supplement for children aged 6-59 months and pregnant women and nursing mothers to an increasing number of refugees and returnees fleeing insecurity in northern Nigeria. WFP is providing a mixed flexible response assisting refugees in camps and to the displaced populations (refugees and returnees) and vulnerable host communities residing outside of the camps.

The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) provides safe, efficient, and effective air transport to UN agencies, NGOs and donors. This enables implementation and oversight of humanitarian activities in areas affected by insecurity and poor road infrastructure.


Burkina Faso: WFP Burkina Faso | Brief Reporting period: 01 April – 30 June 2015

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Source: World Food Programme
Country: Burkina Faso, Mali

COUNTRY STRATEGY

WFP’s long-term vision for Burkina Faso is to ensure food and nutrition security for the poorest and most vulnerable households. The overall country strategy is to provide a framework for assisting the Government in accelerating socioeconomic growth and reduce poverty. Three strategic priorities have been retained to define WFP’s role in Burkina Faso and provide a basis for strategic partnerships with national and international organizations. The three strategic priorities are: (1) enhance the national capacity to respond to crises and build household resilience to shocks; (2) support the development of human capital through social protection programmes; and (3) strengthen small-scale producers’ skills and capacities in marketing and processing agricultural products. WFP has been present in Burkina Faso since 1967.

Senegal: WFP Senegal Brief: Reporting period: 01 April – 30 June 2015

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Source: World Food Programme
Country: Senegal

Summary of WFP assistance:

WFP provides food and nutrition assistance in all 14 regions of Senegal. WFP increasingly aims to provide most vulnerable communities with an integrated assistance package for better results.

WFP improves household food security and the capacity of rural communities to mitigate the impact of climatic shocks, provides nutritional support to children under five, pregnant women and nursing mothers and improves access to education. Activities include village security stocks, cereal banks, food assistance for assets (FFA) and micro insurance in the context of the R4 Initiative (Risk reduction, Risk transfer, Risk taking, Risk reserves), treatment of acute malnutrition, prevention of stunting and school feeding outside the conflict affected Casamance region.

WFP supports vulnerable groups to access to food and productive assets, protects household food security and supports the treatment and prevention of moderate acute malnutrition. The Targeted Food Assistance (TFA) complements the 2015 national response plan to assist to 385,875 food insecure people during lean seasons. Local food procurement is encouraged, and cash and voucher modalities are preferred considering the sizeable amount of cash that is injected into the local economy each time a value voucher transfer takes place. With the inclusion of local foods in the food basket, value voucher distributions help to diversify dietary intake, stimulate local agricultural production and offer a market for smallholder farmers and producers.

WFP will also provide nutrition supplements to some 149,000 children under the age of five and pregnant women and nursing mothers, where GAM prevalence exceeds 10 percent. To minimise negative coping mechanisms, WFP supports the creation of village food security stocks for the most vulnerable, with a view to converting them into sustainable cereal banks. The County Programme supports these developments with training for communities in resource management and post-harvest handling. The enhancement of the national early warning system is also among the priorities.

In Casamance, the household economy approach analysis confirmed the importance of school feeding as a safety net for poor households. Thus, WFP supports school feeding in preschools and primary schools to reduce drop-outs, particularly among boys.

Chad: WFP Chad | Brief : Reporting period: 01 April – 30 June 2015

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Source: World Food Programme
Country: Central African Republic, Chad, Nigeria

COUNTRY STRATEGY

WFP provides relief to strengthen resilience of vulnerable populations in Chad. WFP is augmenting investments in local purchases to foster market development. WFP expects to provide food assistance for 1.4 million people a year under its protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO). Two Regional Emergency Operations (EMOP) are assisting refugees and Chadian returnees from Nigeria and C.A.R.

The Nigerian Regional EMOP is targeting some 140,000 Chadian populations affected due to insecurity and border closure in the Lac, Kanem, and Barh-El-Gazal region. The C.A.R Regional EMOP is presently assisting Chadians from Central African Republic (C.A.R) with emergency assistance, in the South of Chad. WFP aims to improve enrolment of children into primary school, especially girls from vulnerable households, through its development programme within the region of the Sahelian belt. WFP has been present in Chad since 1968.

Cameroon: WFP Cameroon | Brief Reporting period: 01 April – 30 June 2015

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Source: World Food Programme
Country: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Nigeria

COUNTRY STRATEGY

WFP responds to challenges related to food insecurity and malnutrition in Cameroon through a mix of relief, recovery and development operations. Vital emergency support is provided to refugees from C.A.R and Nigeria, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable host populations through two regional emergency operations. Additionally, WFP is supporting the Government in the implementation of its development and recovery priorities.

WFP has been present in Cameroon since 1978 as a key player f

Gambia: WFP The Gambia Brief: Reporting period: 01 April – 30 June 2015

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Source: World Food Programme
Country: Gambia

Summary of WFP assistance:

WFP supports the Government of The Gambia in pursuing both development and humanitarian objectives. While WFP is committed to help meet the needs of the most vulnerable, it is also assisting the government in its efforts to meet national priorities and contribute to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

WFP started a Development Project with the goal of establishing the foundation for a transition towards a nationally owned and managed sustainable school feeding programme. The project focuses on capacity development and aims to ensure that the gains seen in increasing access to education under previous development projects are consolidated and improved upon, especially in regions with significantly low rates of enrolment and retention.

WFP started implementing a Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) as a follow up to emergency operations that provided food assistance to drought and flood affected populations across the country. The PRRO began in response to high malnutrition levels and aims to enable the recovery of households after two climatic shocks in 2011 and 2012. The goal of the operation is to enable communities impacted by the two emergencies to fully recover from the shocks, meet their daily food requirements and prevent deterioration of the nutritional and health situation. Components of the operation include blanket and targeted supplementary feeding assistance to children 6-59 months; targeted supplementary feeding for pregnant women and nursing mothers; livelihood activities with cash transfers as the modality of assistance for vulnerable households in the targeted communities; and supporting the national disaster risk reduction agenda and enhance government capacity in emergency preparedness and response.

Mali: Mali: Humanitarian Bulletin, June - July 2015

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Mali

HIGHLIGHTS

  • People who were displaced in May-June are gradually returning home

  • Increased non-attendance rate during yearend examinations in the north

  • More than 54,000 people affected by water scarcity in the north

Mali: Mali: Bulletin Humanitaire, Juin - Juillet 2015

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Mali

FAITS SAILLANTS

• Les personnes déplacées en mai-juin rentrent graduellement.

• Augmentation du taux d’absentéisme aux examens de fin d’année dans les régions du nord.

• Plus de 54 000 personnes touchées par la pénurie d’eau dans le nord.


Mauritania: EU helps WFP avoid suspension of food support for Mali refugees in Mauritania

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Source: World Food Programme
Country: Mali, Mauritania

NOUAKCHOTT - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomes a contribution of €400,000 (approximately US$438,800) from the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) that will enable WFP to maintain its food assistance over the next few months to nearly 50,000 Malian refugees in Mbera camp.

"This significant contribution from ECHO comes at a critical time, helping us move 270 metric tons of rice and 72 tons of pulses to maintain our food assistance, albeit at a reduced level, for Malian refugees in the Mbera camp. It’s an essential contribution to stave off hunger among the refugees, but we are very concerned that without additional international support, deeper or complete cuts will be inevitable, as of October," said Janne Suvanto, WFP Country Director in Mauritania.

Funding for Malian refugees in south-east Mauritania is vital. WFP needs US$3.5 million until the end of January 2016 to support those living in the Mbera camp. Up to now, only half of the necessary resources has been secured. Current food stocks allow WFP to distribute about 55 percent of the regular ration in August, and 62 percent in September.

"Nearly 50,000 refugees in the camp continue to need humanitarian assistance to meet their food and other basic needs. With the security situation in northern Mali still precarious, we count on our partners’ support to provide the refugees with life-saving assistance otherwise they risk falling into oblivion,” said Suvanto.

Thanks to ECHO - one of WFP’s top three donors in Mauritania – and other donors, WFP has been providing nutrition and food assistance to the Malian refugees of Mbera camp since 2012. This assistance includes monthly food distributions to all refugees; fortified nutritional supplements for children under five and pregnant and nursing women to treat and prevent moderate acute malnutrition; and a daily hot meal to children in schools.

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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food in emergencies and working with communities to build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.

Follow us on Twitter: WFP_WAfrica, WFP_FR

For more information please contact:
Marie Jo Charles, WFP/Nouakchott, mariejo.jncharles@wfp.org,
Adel Sarkozi, WFP/Dakar, adel.sarkozi@wfp.org, + 221 776375964

Niger: Synthèse Globale des données des réfugiés maliens au Niger (31 Jul 2015)

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Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Mali, Niger

Niger: Overcoming Malnutrition in Niger

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Source: Oxfam
Country: Niger

Oxfam is engaged in an ambitious three year program to address the underlying causes of malnutrition and tackle the tragedy which is estimated to be the cause of nearly half of all child deaths in Niger.

Hygiene ready - Clean Water and sanitation

Malnutrition is aggravated by a lack of clean water for drinking and washing, leading to sickness caused by waterborne diseases. Lack of access to clean water is a major problem in some areas even for women giving birth. Health centers, even when they are accessible, often suffer from a lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities. By providing clean, chlorinated water at health centers and nearby villages we are dealing with malnutrition at first source - ensuring that there is clean water for mothers giving birth and sick people.

Lack of water a problem for Treatment Centers

Marho Boubacar (29) is a midwife at Attri Treatment Center, part of Oxfam’s program in 2015. The center is an hour by car or motorbike from the nearest town of Agadez (the ambulance has broken down). The building has only one treatment room and a great need for water.

“The provision of water is a real concern here because there’s no water point There’s a well but it's 500 meters from here, and it's difficult to keep going to fetch water all the time. The cleaner has to go to fetch the water – he carries it back four-five times a day, its hard work! 20 liters per day is the minimum I can get by with and at the moment we’re delivering up to ten babies a month.” Marho Boubacar, midwife, (29).

In 2015 Oxfam will be in Attri to rehabilitate two wells, install a hand pump for the community well and a pipeline to the center from the nearest water point, install four latrines, two hand-washing stations, an incinerator and create a laundry area, as well as training three hygienists and six community health leaders.

Benefits already delivered

Azel, Banneberi, Tondikwindi and Dabaga Treatment centers are already seeing the benefits of the program. We installed water tanks, pumps, toilets, hand-washing stations, incinerators and laundry areas, according to need, at these centers last year. We also trained community health leaders and medical hygienists and provided aquatabs, sensitization programs, hygiene training sessions (WASH) and distributed hygiene kits.

“We are completely delighted to get the water system in our health centre – before it was here we had to go to the neighboring village to fetch water for going to the treatment centre and it was difficult for the nurse to really look after us. Now, they can wash our babies when they have diarrhea. There’s a laundry system and everything is sanitary. It’s huge progress!” Salama (38) mother of Hama*, a baby boy, 9 months. (visitor to Azel Treatment Center).

Sensitization sessions

“The main cause of malnutrition is [lack of] education, if only people knew how to eat. If we intensify sensitization of the villagers we could see huge progress …” Alhassane Mahmoudane (39, lead nurse at Attri Health Center).

Sensitization programs have a waterfall effect, we teach a few ambassadors about good hygiene practices and nutrition and how to spread the knowledge not the illnesses.

Picture books are used in the demonstrations to teach expectant mothers about the importance of immediate breastfeeding, to demonstrate the fundamentals of hand washing, the importance of exclusive maternal breastfeeding, complementary feeding, water treatment at home and hygiene practices to prevent disease.

Local cultural practices have led in the past to mothers not giving their babies the essential nutritious and immune boosting first milk and waiting until their full milk comes in. Educating the local population about the value and purpose of immediate breastfeeding gives babies a better start and protects against disease.

Nutrition and Spotting Malnutrition

“The sensitization sessions are really important - before, people didn’t know the importance of good hygiene to stay healthy. Since the sessions started, we are well informed about hygiene and sanitation. These are changes! Before the sessions people didn’t even seek medical support. Now they come straight to be seen. As soon as any child is sick, I bring them straight in.” Salama (38) mother of Hama*, a baby boy, 9 months (visitor to Azel Treatment Center). Providing clean water, sanitation and training voluntary hygienists helps enable good hygiene practices both for the birthing process and treatment of the sick. But health centers are only a part of the picture. Sometimes there is a lack of education about hygiene and nutrition and this is also an underlying cause of malnutrition in Niger. We support families to keep their children healthy by enhancing their knowledge of food nutrition and good hygiene practices.

The local diet tends to be little varied; a diet of carbohydrate heavy millet. Cooking demonstrations teach the importance of having a varied diet and eating vegetables.

Binta Boukary is an Oxfam trained Community Health Leader in Ouallum Province. She both teaches about nutrition and has been trained to spot malnutrition in children. She weighs the children once a month and evaluates them, this means that malnourished children receive help quickly. “I was really pleased with what I learned about hygiene and nutrition; I learned to prepare fruit as well as porridge, and to wash my child and her hands everyday. The conditions here have really improved. “ Binta Boukary, Dadaga Village, Ouallum Province, Niger.

Spreading knowledge not disease

The health leaders train people who come to the treatment centers and hold sessions for the community, but the message doesn’t stop there - the word spreads and others start to learn about and copy good practices. In this way the program’s benefits are much further reaching.

Maimouna is an ‘indirect’ beneficiary of the program:

“It’s very simple, the program is being taught here by the women. Women who’ve had sick children and have seen the benefits of hand-washing and hygiene practice. Before, we did not do these things. We just learned it from those who’ve been to the training sessions, but we’re already seeing the benefit. It has prevented diarrhea in our children – that’s massively reduced. They are more healthy and they’re more happy! They practice themselves, whether or not adults are present. When the meal is ready, after the meal, after the toilet – they run and wash their hands! Because all the kids are friends, the neighbors copy those who’ve adopted good practice. When I started teaching it here, the kids run to their parents, and say ‘look what they’ve got next door, the kit for hand-washing!’ We only started a few months ago but we’ll definitely keep on with it. We really want it to be a permanent improvement.”

  • some names have been changed.

Mali: Les filets sociaux au Mali : protéger les plus démunis et renforcer la résilience

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Source: World Bank
Country: Mali

LES POINTS MARQUANTS

  • Un atelier sur la protection sociale, organisé par la Banque mondiale au Mali, a réuni les représentants de services étatiques, de bailleurs de fond et d’organisations internationales.

  • Confrontée à plusieurs crises, la population malienne est vulnérable, et nombreux sont ceux qui peinent à trouver des moyens de subsistance.

  • Depuis 2013, la Banque mondiale soutient un projet d’urgence de filets sociaux qui fournit des allocations ciblées à 62 000 ménages.

BAMAKO, le 3 août, 2015—Les filets sociaux sont-ils efficaces ? Tel était le sujet débattu lors d’ateliers organisés par la Banque mondiale à Bamako les 22 et 23 juin. Rassemblant des représentants issus de services étatiques et d’organisations humanitaires et de développement maliens, ces journées de partage ont offert l’opportunité de passer en revue les différentes approches et stratégies mobilisées pour déployer des programmes de filets sociaux dans le pays.

Face aux crises dans le Sahel—catastrophes naturelles, incertitude politique et économique, mise à mal des moyens de subsistance—la population malienne est vulnérable, surtout les plus pauvres. Dans beaucoup de villages maliens, chaque jour donne lieu à une lutte pour la survie.

« Nous mangeons ce que nous trouvons, au jour le jour. En dépit de mes efforts, ce n’est pas toujours suffisant », déplore Sira Coulibaly. Mme Coulibaly habite dans le village de Koulouniko et vit de la vente du bois de chauffe. Le fait de pouvoir manger dépend de sa recette journalière. Afin d’atténuer la pauvreté et l’insécurité alimentaire, la Banque mondiale et le gouvernement du Mali ont mis en place un projet d’urgence de filets sociaux à hauteur de 70 millions de dollars. Connu sous le nom JIGISEMEJIRI, « l’arbre de l’espoir » en langue bambara, il s’agit de distribuer des allocations ciblées à 62 000 ménages dans 106 communes, victimes d’insécurité alimentaire. « Ce projet construit les piliers d’un système national de protection sociale au Mali », indique Mahmoud Sako, coordinateur du projet.

Les bénéficiaires ont constaté l’impact positif du projet, et rappellent le besoin d’un système de protection permanent des ménages en situation de pauvreté et d'insécurité alimentaire chronique.

« Le jour où j’ai reçu cet argent, ce fut un fort soulagement car j’étais très endettée. J’ai remboursé toutes mes dettes », explique Togorotien Sacko du village de Koulouniko, dans la région de Koulikoro, située au sud du pays. « Le travail de nos enfants ne nous permet pas de couvrir les besoins de la famille. Les temps sont durs », ajoute-t-elle.

Mme Coulibaly a acheté des céréales pour la famille : « J’ai reçu 30 000 francs CFA grâce au projet, ce qui m’a beaucoup soulagée. »

Les principales thématiques discutées lors de l’atelier comprenaient de l’ancrage institutionnel ; du registre social ; du ciblage ; des modalités de paiement et des mesures d’accompagnement des allocations pour améliorer le capital humain des enfants.

Selon les échanges de l’atelier, un système national de filets sociaux gagnerait notamment à s’appuyer sur les actions ponctuelles d'assistance humanitaire, créant ainsi des passerelles entre urgence et développement, tout en prenant en compte les contraintes spécifiques du terrain en termes d'accès, de distances et de peuplement.

En cas de choc ponctuel, le système pourrait idéalement se déployer à grande échelle afin d’assister rapidement les ménages vulnérables, impliquant une bonne coordination entre les services étatiques, bailleurs de fond, organisations non gouvernementales et organisations internationales. Les interventions iraient au-delà des seules allocations pour intégrer aussi le développement du capital humain, la nutrition et la résilience des ménages.

Les participants ont estimé qu'il était important de réaliser des actions en faveur de la nutrition, telle que la distribution d'un complément alimentaire pour les membres les plus vulnérables des ménages (jeunes enfants, femmes allaitantes et femmes enceintes), composé des farines enrichies, idéalement produites localement.

En ce qui concerne le renforcement de la résilience des ménages, les participants ont misé sur des séances de sensibilisation spécifiques sur l’épargne, les activités génératrices de revenus (AGR), les institutions de microfinance et les travaux à haute intensité de main d’œuvre.

Nigeria: 7 new babies delivered at returnees camp in Mubi

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Source: Government of Nigeria
Country: Cameroon, Nigeria

… NEMA moves 5, 762 to IDPs camps in Yola

Seven new births were recorded at the Mubi transit camp of the Nigerian returnees from the Republic of Cameroun as 5,762 returnees have been transported by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to the Internally Displaced camps in Yola, Adamawa State.

A health worker at the Mubi transit camp Dauda Yakubu who confirmed the new births said seven pregnant women among the returnees were safely delivered of four girls and three boys with the mothers and babies all in stable condition.

The Director Search and Rescue of NEMA Air Commodore Charles Otegbade who leads the NEMA team and is coordinating the evacuation gave the breakdown that 4,641 of the returnees were transported at the weekend in addition to the earlier 1, 121 of out of which 650 have been further transported from the camps in Yola to Borno State.

He said the ” we have moved the returnees from the Mubi reception centre and all of them at the Nigerian/Cameroun border post in Sahuda, after clearance by the Nigerian Immigration Service and other security agencies to the Internally Displaced Persons camps in Yola.”

He also said that more returnees were still being expected at the border post while those transported to Yola have been taken to the IDPs camps in Damare NYSC camp and Malkohi and a new location in Fufore for proper supports and care by NEMA. He assured that all returnees arriving at the border would be fully supported and taken to the IDPs camps for proper care.

The Director General of NEMA Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi had earlier visited Mubi to officially receive the returnees and assured them of the Federal Government support. He was accompanied by the Deputy Governor of Borno State Alhaji Zanna Umar Mustapha as most of the returnees who had been displaced by insurgency before fleeing to the Republic of Cameroun are from Borno State.

As the returnees arrived the IDPs camps, NEMA officials managing those camps immediately provided them with food to eat, beddings, clothings and other basic supports. Also, at the transit camp in Mubi, NEMA provided them with foods. Health officials of the Adamawa State Government and members of the Nigerian Red Cross Society are also supporting the IDPs at the camps.

About NEMA Nigeria: All correspondences should be addressed to: Public Relations Division, National Emergency Management Agency, No. 8, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent Maitama, Abuja Email: nemapress@yahoo.com or info@nema.gov.ng

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