Help Build a Future for IDP Women & Children

It is with much sadness that I write this report about the current situation in Bamako, Mali and how it is impacting our programs. For the past 8 years ATEG has been running programs to improve the lives of women and children who fled terrorism in Central Mali. They came to Bamako, the capital city which is in Southern Mali. Many settled on an active garbage dump called the Faladje IDP Camp. This was the primary camp that ATEG focused on. Over the years we have run programs for Women’s Skills Training, Childhood Education, Food Distribution and provided Healthcare.

For the past few years the military government has demanded these IDPs return to their homes in Central Mali. However, the terrorist activity that drove them out has only gotten worse, so most refused to leave. A few weeks ago the government bulldozed the camp and forced the residents to leave. Some are currently living in Bamako with relatives, some are living in abandoned housing, some are on the streets.

So how does this impact the ATEG programs? Logistically things are most difficult since our beneficiaries are scattered around the city. We have set up a command post in the offices of our partner in Bamako, ADICOM. They have been able to remain in contact with most of them and will continue food distribution at their office. With ATEGs help, they plan to build on to their facility to provide space for the women to continue sewing as well as conducting the other businesses they had started.

Another casualty of this government action is our children’s education program. Our children were close to completing their third year of school, pending taking their last test, required to advance to the next grade. After they were forced to leave Faladje, it was not possible to transfer 30 students who were scattered around Bamako into their local schools in a timely manner. We are in consultation with the schools to grant these children a waiver due to these most unfortunate circumstances.

On top of all this, the jihadists have cut off the main roads to Bamako causing food and fuel shortages. They also attacked the dam causing power disruptions. All in all a heartbreaking situation. ATEG will continue to offer whatever support we can to help these women and children who have experienced more suffering than any person should ever know.