The plight of thousands of people internally displaced in Mali following the recent military intervention is getting worse The armed intervention launched on 10 January 2012 by the Malian army and foreign troops against Islamist armed groups has caused thousands of people to flee their homes.
According to the latest estimates dating back to 14 January 2013, close to 230,000 people were internally displaced in Mali since January 2012. The overall number of people internally displaced since the beginning of the current military intervention is still unknown.
Estimates of those internally displaced are hard to verify because of the conditions on the ground but assessments are currently taking place in accessible regions by humanitarian partners. The year-long turmoil affecting Mali has also forced an estimated 150,000 people to seek shelter and assistance in neighboring countries.
More displacements are expected across the country as the fighting and violence are likely to intensify over the next few weeks as more French and African troops are deployed. Further counterattacks such as that launched by jihadists in the west of the country are also to be expected. The closure of Algeria’s border with Mali will prevent Malians wanting to take refuge there from doing so, and Mauritania has also increased its military presence along its border.
