By Jim Stipe
As people in the West African nation of Mali await the final results of Sunday’s presidential election, hoping for a government that will steer the country towards development and peace, CRS continues its lifesaving work in the country.
“Malians hope that the new government will address corruption, lack of transparency and poor services,” said Sean Gallagher, CRS’ country representative in Mali. “The elections are seen as an opportunity in Mali, and people hope that the newly elected leaders can take advantage of this opportunity and address the deep seated problems that have held the country back from working on behalf of the Malian people. There is a sense, also, that the elections will now move the country ‘beyond the coup.’”
The coup last year and a French-led military intervention in January led many to flee their homes, with hundreds of thousands seeking safety in the country’s capital, Bamako, or across borders in neighboring countries. CRS has provided assistance to displaced and vulnerable families in Bamako, and is now expanding this work in the Mopti region, in central Mali, as a result of improved security.
Even amid hopes for peace and stability as a result of the election, many of Mali’s residents continue to experience severe food shortages and other needs in the areas of health, water and sanitation. Farmers need seeds and fertilizer to take advantage of the upcoming rainy season.
CRS is currently working with local partners in conflict-affected areas to help the most vulnerable meet such immediate needs through cash transfers and seed fairs.