Bamako, Mali, 25 October 2024 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC), funded by the European Union (EU), has implemented healthcare and nutrition programmes in the districts of Tenenkou and Youwarou, Mali, which significantly enhanced access to quality healthcare, nutrition, and protection services. The EU has supported these efforts through humanitarian funding, having supported the project by donating 3 million euros, reaching more than 82,000 clients.
Mali is facing an escalating crisis driven by security and economic instability, leaving 7.1 million people in need of aid and approximately one million children at risk of acute malnutrition. With crucial EU support, the IRC has improved healthcare access in Mali by strengthening local health facilities, providing bonuses to healthcare workers, securing medicine supplies, and deploying mobile clinics. These efforts have delivered life-saving vaccinations to children and essential care to adults. The IRC also focused on community-based actions to screen and refer malnourished children and strengthen referral systems for severe cases. As a result, nearly 58,000 primary curative consultations were conducted, ensuring vital medical care reached remote populations in need.
Matias Meier, Country Director of IRC Mali, said:
“This program has been a vital lifeline, offering free healthcare to children under 5, pregnant women, and internally displaced persons—reaching those most in need. With support from the European Union, the IRC has efficiently provided essential services to communities grappling with severe humanitarian challenges in a highly unstable and restricted environment. Unfortunately, the recent devastating floods have further worsened the crisis, displacing thousands, and are expected to significantly increase food insecurity due to widespread crop destruction.
Our teams remain fully committed and mobilized to meet the growing needs, and we are pleased to continue our efforts with the EU through a new project in the Tenenkou and Youwarou regions. This follow-up initiative ensures continuity of care while enabling rapid emergency responses when needed. That said, increased international donors' funding remains critical to addressing the escalating crises in the region.”
In addition to healthcare, the IRC has strengthened protection services by implementing gender-based violence prevention and response activities under this concluded project. As a result, 93 survivors of gender-based violence could be identified, and receive a holistic support to address their physical, emotional, and social needs, allowing them to heal and regain a sense of safety.
The IRC's Rapid Response Mechanism teams have also been on the ground, delivering urgent assistance to displaced families in Tenenkou, Youwarou, Ménaka, and Ansongo. Through 14 interventions, nearly 23,000 people forced from their homes received the help they desperately needed. This support, including cash transfers, allowed families to buy food, access clean water, and secure basic necessities like hygiene supplies and shelter—empowering them to rebuild their lives despite the upheaval around them.