Caritas Mali urges international help as crisis unfolds

January 18, 2013 - The head of the Catholic Church’s social arm of Mali has appealed to the international community for a humanitarian corridor in the war-torn country. “A new period of suffering is beginning for the people of Mali. We would welcome support so that we can help the increasing number of displaced and refugees,” Archbishop Jean Zerbo of Bamako, the president of Caritas Mali said. He appealed to the global Caritas network and the international community to help those affected by the conflict underway. French and African troops are trying to prevent Islamic rebels who have taken control of northern Mali from advancing further. Archbishop Zerbo cited reports saying up to 400,000 people have fled their homes either to southern Mali or to neighbouring countries since the rebels began advancing from the north last year. Some 18 million people lived through a severe food crisis in the region last year. As the situation worsens, he said, people will increasingly need food, drinking water, hygiene kits, anti-malarials and other items to cover their basic needs. The current cold and damp season exacerbates the humanitarian situation even more. Caritas Mali continues to work with Catholic Relief Services (a US member of the Caritas network) on development projects in unaffected areas and has been monitoring the situation. Insecurity means that it is extremely difficult for humanitarian agencies to operate. The Caritas office in Mopti has been closed for the past week because of intensive fighting in the surrounding area. French airstrikes started in the north of Mali a week ago, followed by a ground offensive with the help of African troops. The UN says that at least 30,000 people have abandoned their homes over the past few days. A small percentage have gone to Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. Ninety percent of those fleeing are women.