Mali - Emergency Response in Gao and Bourem - Oxfam-Québec Appeal 2014

March 2014 - Some 3.3 million people in Mali do not have access to sufficient safe and nutritious food. Unrest and conflict in the north have displaced 472 000 people including 171 000 who have fled to neighbouring countries to escape the violence. Fighting banditry and land-mine contamination restrict the access for relief agencies to only some areas where basic services such as medical care and water and sanitation services are gradually resuming. Refugees internally displaced persons and host communities are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance including protection shelter food nutrition and livelihoods assistance as well as access to clean water health and sanitation services. With DFATD’s support Oxfam-Québec is providing emergency assistance for 36 000 conflict-affected people in the districts of Gao and Bourem including access to water and the provision of essential items to improve their health and livelihoods. Project activities include: (1) rehabilitation or construction of water points for the supply of safe drinking water; (2) distribution of hygiene kits including soap jerry cans and mosquito nets ; (3) distribution of seeds and tools to produce rice (4) rehabilitation of irrigated dikes to prevent flooding; and (5) promotion of human rights and equity in accessing humanitarian assistance.

The expected immediate outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to drinking water sanitation and hygiene; (2) improved livelihoods and food security; and (3) strengthened protection against the impact of conflict. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.