Aid Group Warns Against IDP Return to Mali North

November 21, 2013

FILE - A photo taken on April 10, 2013 shows French soldiers taking part, 105 kms north of the northeastern Malian city of Gao, in an operation to find Islamist fighters.

The humanitarian group – Refugees International – says it’s too soon to send displaced Malians back home. The ngo calls the government move to return them to the north dangerously premature.

Refugees International has released a new report called Hidden and in Need: Urban Displacement in Southern Mali.

Michelle Brown, RI’s Senior Advocate and the group’s representative to the United Nations, said, “The government has been encouraging IDPs to return to the north because, as you know, returns are often very political. IDP and refugee returns show a certain level of stability. And the government is eager to show that they have regained control over the north and that the security threats have diminished. And as we’ve seen that’s not the case.”

It’s estimated most of Mali’s 283,000 displaced people live in the south. But Brown said tens of thousands have returned to the north.

“It’s still not secure enough for widespread returns and basic services are not in place to the level necessary to allow for widespread returns.”

Refugees International bases its findings on comments from Malians who have returned to the north.