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| Mali conflict sparks fears of humanitarian crisis | Mali conflict sparks fears of humanitarian crisis |
| (25 days later) | |
| There is growing concern about the humanitarian situation in Mali, with new reports of fighting forcing thousands to flee their homes, the blocking of humanitarian routes and civilian casualties caused by the conflict. | There is growing concern about the humanitarian situation in Mali, with new reports of fighting forcing thousands to flee their homes, the blocking of humanitarian routes and civilian casualties caused by the conflict. |
| As fighting continued north of the capital city, Bamako – with a steadily increasing number of French and African troops joining Malian soldiers in attempts to oust Islamist rebels – there were questions about the obstruction of humanitarian relief by the armed forces. | As fighting continued north of the capital city, Bamako – with a steadily increasing number of French and African troops joining Malian soldiers in attempts to oust Islamist rebels – there were questions about the obstruction of humanitarian relief by the armed forces. |
| One aid worker, speaking to the Guardian by phone from Bandiagara, just a few miles east of Mopti – the northernmost city under government control – said that local aid agencies were afraid to move around by vehicle for fear of being mistaken for rebels by the Malian or French army. | One aid worker, speaking to the Guardian by phone from Bandiagara, just a few miles east of Mopti – the northernmost city under government control – said that local aid agencies were afraid to move around by vehicle for fear of being mistaken for rebels by the Malian or French army. |
| "We do food distributions and work with children suffering from malnutrition, but our movements are very restricted at the moment. We can't move around by car. We take mopeds, or go on foot," said Sylvestre Tenebay from the Association de Droits de l'Homme. "There are many soldiers here. They have been arresting and interrogating people if they see anything they find suspicious. | "We do food distributions and work with children suffering from malnutrition, but our movements are very restricted at the moment. We can't move around by car. We take mopeds, or go on foot," said Sylvestre Tenebay from the Association de Droits de l'Homme. "There are many soldiers here. They have been arresting and interrogating people if they see anything they find suspicious. |
| "Since the rebels attacked Konna we have been very afraid, but when the French arrived we felt reassured, and now we hear that Konna is back in army control." | "Since the rebels attacked Konna we have been very afraid, but when the French arrived we felt reassured, and now we hear that Konna is back in army control." |
| The medical relief group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) told the Guardian it was being blocked from reaching Konna by both sides in the conflict. | The medical relief group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) told the Guardian it was being blocked from reaching Konna by both sides in the conflict. |
| "Both sides need to give way for humanitarian workers to pass through and treat the wounded and displaced," said Ibrahim Ahmed, chief co-ordinator for MSF, who is currently in an area affected by the combat but asked for his location not to be revealed. "Konna is a critical area for us and we have been trying to access it without success." | "Both sides need to give way for humanitarian workers to pass through and treat the wounded and displaced," said Ibrahim Ahmed, chief co-ordinator for MSF, who is currently in an area affected by the combat but asked for his location not to be revealed. "Konna is a critical area for us and we have been trying to access it without success." |
| "Despite our repeated requests, access to the Konna region is always refused," said Malik Allaouna, MSF director of operations. | "Despite our repeated requests, access to the Konna region is always refused," said Malik Allaouna, MSF director of operations. |
| Fears were also growing for civilians in the north of the country under rebel control. UNHCR staff who are working with displaced refugees in Burkina Faso said that some were relaying stories of "executions and amputations". The agency spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said there were tales of large offers of money to civilians who would fight against the French-backed Malian army and its supporters. | Fears were also growing for civilians in the north of the country under rebel control. UNHCR staff who are working with displaced refugees in Burkina Faso said that some were relaying stories of "executions and amputations". The agency spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said there were tales of large offers of money to civilians who would fight against the French-backed Malian army and its supporters. |
| Reports of the use of child soldiers among the al-Qaida linked Islamist groups and disappeared family members also are surfacing, she said. | Reports of the use of child soldiers among the al-Qaida linked Islamist groups and disappeared family members also are surfacing, she said. |
| The UN has said it is able to get access to Mopti from Timbuktu by water, but that Konna as well as Gao and Kidal further in the north remain inaccessible to humanitarian operations. Other humanitarian organisations, including Plan Mali, Action contre la Faim (Action against Hunger) and Christian Aid say they have withdrawn all staff from the area affected by conflict and have been forced to suspend operations. | The UN has said it is able to get access to Mopti from Timbuktu by water, but that Konna as well as Gao and Kidal further in the north remain inaccessible to humanitarian operations. Other humanitarian organisations, including Plan Mali, Action contre la Faim (Action against Hunger) and Christian Aid say they have withdrawn all staff from the area affected by conflict and have been forced to suspend operations. |
| "Action contre la Faim has had to temporarily suspend its programmes in the Gao region," the organisation said in a statement. "We are concerned about the consequences of this fighting for a population already vulnerable not only where combat is taking place, but also in the north, which is becoming more and more isolated." | "Action contre la Faim has had to temporarily suspend its programmes in the Gao region," the organisation said in a statement. "We are concerned about the consequences of this fighting for a population already vulnerable not only where combat is taking place, but also in the north, which is becoming more and more isolated." |
| There are also growing concerns about civilian casualties, details of which remain difficult to obtain. | There are also growing concerns about civilian casualties, details of which remain difficult to obtain. |
| A report by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs quotes Malian authorities who say that civilians are among more than 60 wounded people at a hospital in Sévare, close to the town of Konna, which was brought back under the control of French and Malian soldiers after a fierce battle lasting more than a week. | A report by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs quotes Malian authorities who say that civilians are among more than 60 wounded people at a hospital in Sévare, close to the town of Konna, which was brought back under the control of French and Malian soldiers after a fierce battle lasting more than a week. |
| Earlier this week the Guardian visited a hospital in Ségou, in central Mali, where at least one civilian was recovering after being caught in crossfire during an exchange between Islamist and Malian army soldiers in Diabali. | Earlier this week the Guardian visited a hospital in Ségou, in central Mali, where at least one civilian was recovering after being caught in crossfire during an exchange between Islamist and Malian army soldiers in Diabali. |
| Fighting continued for the eighth day since French troops launched Operation Serval, conducting bombing raids and ground combat in rebel strongholds in north and central Mali. A growing number of African forces were reported to be heading to the country to assist in the military intervention, with Ghana the latest country preparing to deploy personnel. The Ghanaian press reported that 120 military engineers were preparing to travel to Mali to provide logistical support and build key military infrastructure. | Fighting continued for the eighth day since French troops launched Operation Serval, conducting bombing raids and ground combat in rebel strongholds in north and central Mali. A growing number of African forces were reported to be heading to the country to assist in the military intervention, with Ghana the latest country preparing to deploy personnel. The Ghanaian press reported that 120 military engineers were preparing to travel to Mali to provide logistical support and build key military infrastructure. |
| Aid workers said they were seeing a steady movement of displaced people as the UN released new predictions that as many as 700,000 more civilians would be displaced by the fighting in the next few months, with 300,000 remaining inside the country and more than 400,000 potentially flowing into neighbouring countries. | Aid workers said they were seeing a steady movement of displaced people as the UN released new predictions that as many as 700,000 more civilians would be displaced by the fighting in the next few months, with 300,000 remaining inside the country and more than 400,000 potentially flowing into neighbouring countries. |
| There are already calls for emergency relief for refugees in neighbouring countries, in particular Burkina Faso – where camps now hold almost 40,000 Malian refugees – and Mauritania, where there are 54,000, and where refugee camps are said to be dangerously overcrowded. | There are already calls for emergency relief for refugees in neighbouring countries, in particular Burkina Faso – where camps now hold almost 40,000 Malian refugees – and Mauritania, where there are 54,000, and where refugee camps are said to be dangerously overcrowded. |
| Reports in the Senegalese newspaper l'Observateur said 50 people claiming to be refugees from Mali had been arrested after crossing the border to Senegal, and had been detained at a police station. | Reports in the Senegalese newspaper l'Observateur said 50 people claiming to be refugees from Mali had been arrested after crossing the border to Senegal, and had been detained at a police station. |
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