Brussels, 10/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on 9 and 10 October, Valentin Tapsoba, the regional representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (HCR) in Mali, launched an appeal to the generosity of the international community to plug the funding deficit the HCR is struggling with to tackle the humanitarian needs of Mali and its neighbours.
With all eyes on Syria and the principal of military intervention in Mali seeming to be a done deal (it will be announced on 19 October at the AU/EU/ECOWAS summit), Tapsoba spoke during his meeting with Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid and, the day before, with the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, of his fears that this “explosive and complex” crisis, which is just as serious as the Syrian crisis, with the same risks of escalation, is a “forgotten humanitarian crisis”. As of 1 October, it had created more than 200,000 refugees (59,429 in three camps in Niger, 107, 241 in Mauritania, 34,877 in Burkina Faso, 44 in Guinea Conakry, 20 in Togo) and 118,795 internally displaced persons. “These figures are probably higher, because we do not have access to everywhere. We have launched an appeal for $153.7 million for the countries involved, whereas we are currently financed at a level of 40.6%. We are only carrying out these activities to save lives”, Tapsoba told the European press. What is needed is to plug the gap as a matter of urgency to cover the educational needs of children, drinking water for people and their cattle, cleansing, shelters adapted to the high temperatures of the Sahel (where normal tents are inadequate), said Tapsoba. He went on to add that “Security is the main problem, it is impossible for United Nations or NGO staff to get around without a military escort, which is very expensive”. In Burkina Faso, 57% of refugees are children, who have already lost the school year 2011-2012 and could also lose the year 2012-2013. Requirements in terms of shelters are covered to a level of 50% in Niger and 40% in Burkina Faso. Shower requirements are 66% covered and latrine requirements 80%. As regards food requirements, the HCR is working with the World Food Programme (WFP), “but this is still not able to supply full food baskets”. As regards health, MSF (France, Belgium and Switzerland) and Médecins du monde “are helping with their own funding, but are pulling out in December as they take the view that the emergency is over, this will hit us hard”, said Tapsoba, who added: “with the forthcoming intervention of ECOWAS, we need to prepare a coordinated sub-regional contingency plan, with the required funding”, to take account of four scenarios: - the gradual deterioration of the situation without armed clashes; - an intervention by the Mali Armed Forces supported by ECOWAS and the international community (a project currently under consideration); - politico-military destabilisation; - the descent of armed groups towards the south to march on Bamako. (AN/transl.fl)