Mali: Wrapping up visit, United Nations (UN) relief chief announces $8 million to tackle drought before it strikes

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, wrapped up a three-day visit to Mali today.

Fletcher said that Mali is a country of extraordinary history, culture and resilience, and that throughout his visit, he has seen what local leadership, communities and humanitarian partners can achieve. But with the humanitarian response plan just less than one-third funded, he stressed the urgent need for greater international support.

Earlier today, in Timbuktu, Fletcher met with the Governor of the Timbuktu region, Bakoun Kanté, to discuss how to strengthen cooperation and expand humanitarian support. He visited the Bellafarandi Health Centre, where health workers are treating people for acute malnutrition and caring for families displaced by insecurity. The centre serves around 30,000 people, but the staff there has warned that dwindling funding is putting essential services at risk.

Mr. Fletcher also visited a center for women and girls in Timbuktu that provides much needed respite and support to vulnerable women and girls who have endured displacement and violence.

In Gao yesterday, in the north of the country, Fletcher announced an $8 million commitment for anticipatory action from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to get ahead of the drought.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).