Thousands in Central Mali Protected from Explosive Risks Amid Funding Crisis

While the number of displaced people in Mali is growing and funding is dwindling, DanChurchAid (DCA) Mali and its national partner, AAPPOR, continue to deliver support to tens of thousands of the most vulnerable among them with the support of the European Union. Almost 55,000 Malians have received lifesaving training on identifying and dealing with unexploded bombs – and now they are training others in their communities.

PRESS RELEASE – DCA MALI

Mali has been impacted by the devolving security context in the Sahel for more than a decade – with grave human costs. Thousands of civilians have been displaced in search of safety away from their communities and the impact of the insecurity across the Sahel has also resulted in large number of refugees seeking safety in Mali.

Mali is currently home to more than 138,000 refugees – predominantly from Burkina Faso and Niger.

In this context, DCA and AAPPOR (Association pour l’Appui aux Populations Rurales) are completing the first two-year phase of a project aimed to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable populations affected by the ongoing conflict in the districts of Macina, Niono, San and Tominian, in central Mali. Funded by the European Union the project educates communities about the risks of unexploded bombs and ammunition as well as guns and small arms in the communities, and offers assistance to victims of these devices.

Esmée DE JONG, Head of EU Humanitarian Aid Operations in Mali, says “Long after the fighting moves on, explosive ordnance continues to kill and injure civilians. For families in Mali, knowing how to recognise and avoid these deadly hazards can mean the difference between life and death. The European Union is helping communities to protect themselves and ensuring explosive ordnance survivors receive the support they need.”

Since its launch in April 2024, the project has reached 54,820 individuals – more than half being women and girls – with training (explosive ordnance risk education), as well as small arms and light weapons awareness raising.  This is 20% more than projected when work began in 2024.

Strong engagement and collaboration leads to success

The project has strengthened local protection mechanisms through the training of 36 community focal points and 80 volunteers and provided logistical, medical, food, cash and psychosocial assistance to 406 victims of explosive ordnance and small arms-related incidents. This is slightly above the target made possible by the strong engagement from the community and the combined collaboration of focal points and volunteers trained by the project.

Joanna OLSEN, Country Director for DCA in Mali, says “We are working with our partners to support communities so they can continue to protect themselves and their families. We have seen that communities continue awareness raising activities even after the official activities are completed. They understand that this information saves lives.”

Equitable innovative approaches such as inclusive training of people with disabilities and the use of radio and sketches have further contributed to enhancing sensitisation and dissemination of life-saving information in hard‑to‑access areas and with marginalised populations.

About EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid

The European Union and its Member States are the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid.

Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.

Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.