In a statement released on Wednesday, the NGO ‘Medecins Sans Frontieres’ (MSF) announced the temporary suspension of its activities in Nampala, in the Segou region, in central Mali, following an attack on one of its workers there on 14 October.
According to MSF, one of its teams, which was accompanying community health workers, was violently attacked on the outskirts of Nampala by armed individuals.
According to testimonies by MSF workers, the team was in the field to provide vital care to the local population, including those displaced by the ongoing military operations. The attackers robbed the humanitarian team, directly threatening the safety of patients and staff.
This decision by MSF deprives the population of important medical assistance against the backdrop of scarce aid.
The violence against humanitarian workers in the Segou region reflects a worrying trend observed in conflict zones in the Sahel. Humanitarian workers, despite their commitment to strict neutrality, are increasingly targeted by armed groups. “All parties to the conflict must respect civilians, health facilities and humanitarian workers,”
MSF said.
This is not the first time that MSF has been forced to review its presence in this region of Mali. In November 2023, after several security incidents, MSF had already temporarily suspended its activities and transferred part of its operations from Nampala to safer bases, notably in Molodo and Niono.
The relocation took place in a context of similar security pressures, with the aim of continuing to provide care, albeit in less risky conditions for the teams.
MSF: The Only International NGO in Nampala since 2022
Since the start of its operations in Nampala in 2022, MSF has remained the only international organisation providing free healthcare to the local population. MSF’s interventions are essential, particularly for children under 5 and pregnant women, who are particularly vulnerable to infections such as malaria, which is on the rise at this time of year. This temporary withdrawal of MSF therefore leaves a significant gap in access to care in a region where the needs are immense.
Resumption conditioned by security guarantees
MSF has announced that it is in discussions with local, regional and national authorities to obtain security guarantees that would allow their activities to resume in complete serenity. However, this resumption remains conditional on the implementation of concrete measures to avoid the repetition of such incidents. Negotiations are underway, aimed at strengthening the protection of humanitarian personnel and ensuring strict compliance with international humanitarian law.
MD/Sf/ac/fss/as/APA