GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS
As of 1 November, the total number of Malian refugees in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Algeria, Togo and Guinea is 208,306 persons. The new figure of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mali as a result of the crisis is estimated at 203,843. The current number of Malian refugees and IDPs is 412,149 persons.
On 12 October, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2071/2012 to support an international military intervention led by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to oust the Islamist extremists from the north of Mali. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation visited Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from 15 to 21 October to assess the current humanitarian situation as a result of the Mali crisis and to discuss the challenges facing the Governments and humanitarian actors providing response to the situation. The United States Secretary of State, Mrs Hillary Clinton visited Algeria on 29 October to discuss the increasing threat posed by Islamist extremists in Mali with the Algerian Government.
UNHCR Regional Representation of West Africa in Dakar, in coordination with UNHCR offices in countries affected or likely to be affected by the Malian crisis, is in the process of updating a Mali Regional Contingency Plan in order to prepare for a well-coordinated refugee response to a further mass influx of Malian refugees into neighbouring countries in the event of a possible international military intervention.
The worsening security situation in the Sahel region impacts on the movements of humanitarian workers and on humanitarian operations in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania requiring the use of regular armed escorts. In Mauritania, the Level 2 Registration exercise started in Mbera camp on 18 September continues. The results are expected during the month of November 2012. The exercise has been scheduled to start in Niger on 12 November. New, revalidated Malian refugee statistics for the hosting countries are expected to be known in December 2012.
In Burkina Faso, 406 refugees composed of 134 households have been relocated from Deou Tamashek and Ferrerio in the Oudalan province to a safer and improved camp, Goudebo in the Seno province between 18 and 30 October. On 16 and 17 October, 200 refugees composed of 67 households were also relocated from Somgande in Ouagadougou to Saag Nioniogo.