GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS
As of 1 December, the total number of Malian refugees in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria, Togo and Guinea is 155,187 persons. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mali as a result of the crisis is estimated at 198,558. The current number of Malian refugees and IDPs is 353,745 persons.
On 11 November in Abuja, ECOWAS Heads of State adopted a harmonized Concept of Operations for the deployment of the proposed African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) in Mali for an initial period of one year.
Following the outcome of the Level 2 Registration of Malian refugees in Burkina Faso, UNHCR, partners and the Burkina Faso authorities have adjusted and re-aligned funding and operational requirements in line with the new figures. The 2012 Supplementary Budget for the Mali situation has been officially decreased by USD 30.2 million.
In Niger, the Level 2 Registration, which will provide comprehensive data for enhanced protection and assistance delivery for Malian refugees, started in Niamey on 12 November, and proceeded in Abala, Mangaize and Tabareybarey camps on 22 November. The registration exercise is expected to be completed in Niger by the end of January.
In Mauritania, the Level 2 Registration exercise which started in Mbera camp on 18 September, ended on 29 November. The current number of Malian refugees in the camp is 54,117, a decrease of approximately 50% compared to previous figures of an estimated 108,000 persons obtained through Level 1 Registration. UNHCR, partners and the Mauritanian authorities will start the process of adjustment and re-alignment of funding and operational requirements in line with the new figures.
The Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees for Operations, Ms. Janet Lim, the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Mr. Ramiro Lopes da Silva, and the Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, Ms. Yoka Brandt, undertook a mission in Mauritania from 18 to 22 November to visit programmes implemented by UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF in Mauritania and to conduct strategic discussions on ways to reinforce the collaboration between the three agencies.
From 10 to 14 November, the First Secretary of the Political Affairs Division of the Permanent Mission of Japan in Geneva, Ms. Satoko Toku, visited Malian refugees in Burkina to help increase visibility in their situation.
From 26 to 28 November, UNHCR organized a workshop in Dakar to finalize the 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 in the north of Mali.