Source: IRIN News, May 29, 2015
A spike in violence in northern Mali has driven the number of people displaced in the country above 100,000, many of them urgently needing food, water, and shelter as time runs out before the rainy season begins.
The situation is worst in the northern Timbuktu region, where an estimated 23,000 people have been driven from their homes in only a few days, fleeing a marked upsurge in attacks by rebel coalitions and government-controlled militias.
Many key players were absent from a peace signing ceremony in the capital Bamako on May 15 that had been trumpeted as a solution to years of conflict involving the Malian government, the militias, Islamist groups, and Tuareg rebels.
The fighting in northern Mali, which has seen a resurrection of attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers, persists despite several truces, preliminary peace deals, and increased engagement from the international community.
» Learn about Mali’s annual music Festival in the Desert, now silenced by local conflict. Readers may also be interested in the new film Timbuktu. Read about it in The Guardian. I also strongly encourage you to read a review by Stephen Davies. Thanks for praying for Mali!