Assistance to Malian Refugees in Burkina Faso Niger and Mauritania - UNHCR 2014

March 2014 - Unrest and conflict in the north of Mali 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 and that of other donors UNHCR is providing protection and assistance to 145 000 Malian refugees in Burkina Faso Mauritania and Niger. Activities include: (1) providing protection to refugees; (2) providing basic health services education assistance and shelter support; (3) helping refugees to gain asylum or find other durable solutions to their situations; and (4) providing income-generating activities.

The expected immediate outcomes for this project include: (1) increased protection; (2) increased access to health education and shelter; (3) increased access to durable solution for refugee situation; and (4) increased access to livelihoods. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.