The Malian government on Wednesday, August 19, called for stronger protection of humanitarian workers ahead of a national commemoration scheduled to take place in Mopti. OCHA recorded 814 incidents affecting humanitarian access in 2025, a 41 percent increase from the previous year.
Malian Minister of Health and Social Development Assa Badiallo Touré called for greater protection of humanitarian personnel during events marking World Humanitarian Day, held under the theme “Act for Humanity.” She paid tribute to those working with communities affected by conflict, displacement and disasters.
According to the minister, more than 1,100 humanitarian workers were “victims” worldwide in 2025, including two in Mali. The figure, which was directly attributed to her, was accompanied by a call for respect for international humanitarian law and greater protection for personnel working in crisis zones.
OCHA’s annual report on access constraints provides a broader picture of the situation in Mali. Of the 814 incidents recorded in 2025, compared with 574 in 2024, at least 71 were linked to violence against humanitarian personnel, assets or infrastructure.
The tally includes attacks, theft, burglaries and damage to facilities, going beyond cases involving deaths and injuries alone.
One of the most serious incidents was the attack that took place on July 25 near Timissa, in the San region. OCHA said at the time that two employees of a local NGO were killed while transporting food supplies to displaced families. Two other people were seriously injured and the truck, carrying 40 tonnes of food, was set on fire.
The specialised Aid Worker Security Database also recorded a separate attack on February 7 in Kobé, along the Gao-Ansongo road. According to the database, an NGO driver was killed and two other humanitarian workers were wounded when an escorted convoy came under attack.
Human Rights Watch, which investigated the incident, put the overall toll at least 34 civilians killed and 34 injured. The organisation interviewed survivors and located the attack along a route that had already witnessed several attacks against travelers.
The figures are based on different methodologies. OCHA tracks constraints affecting the delivery of humanitarian assistance, while the Aid Worker Security Database records major incidents directly affecting humanitarian workers. Nevertheless, they show that humanitarian personnel face risks extending beyond the two cases cited in the minister’s statement.
For 2026, OCHA estimates that 5.1 million people in Mali need humanitarian assistance. The humanitarian plan aims to reach 3.8 million people and requires $577.9 million, amid a security environment in which the safety of aid workers directly determines access to assistance for vulnerable populations.
MD/Sf/lb/as/APA