Overview of the humanitarian situation
Mali continues to be simultaneously hit by the impact of the conflict in the north and the consequences of the food crisis of 2012, a response which was disrupted by the political and security situation.
While humanitarian access remains restricted in the north due to a volatile security environment, the needs are great for communities affected for over a year by this complex crisis that is likely to worsen in the coming months. A panel of food security experts just announced that northern Mali is in a situation of food 'crisis', and will go to ‘emergency’ in less than two months if access to populations doesn’t improve and food assistance is not increased.
On the other hand the movement of population is continuing, with a current estimate of the number of internally displaced persons at more than 280,000 and 175,000 Malian refugees in neighbouring countries. Presently, the situation in northern Mali does not allow the massive return of displaced persons and refugees.
Despite the scale of needs and the urgency of the situation, the humanitarian response remains largely under- funded, and Oxfam has only secured a quarter of the funds necessary to meet the basic needs in food security and livelihoods, water and sanitation and protection.