UN agencies calls for greater funds for Mali after mission’s withdrawal

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 12th Jan. According to UN spokesman in New York Stephane Dujarric on Thursday said that the UN agencies were able to reach 1.8 million people in Mali last year but more funding and commitment to long-term development is needed after the drawdown of the UN mission at the end of December.

Dujarric was briefing reporters stressed that the UN and partners were “committed to staying and delivering principled assistance and protection services” despite the gap left by the end of the peacekeeping mission at the request of Mali’s military authorities.

He said the UN would continue working with national authorities, Malian organizations and local communities, “but to keep the response going, agencies urgently need support for critical enabling services such as logistics, mine action and security”.

“In some locations, these services were of course being provided previously in part by the UN peacekeeping mission,” he added.

He noted that nearly two million Malians had received assistance last year despite the already “escalating insecurity” in parts of the country, much of which is plagued by armed extremists following more than a decade of unrest and political upheaval.

Mr. Dujarric said that agencies also need full funding for this year’s humanitarian response.

The full response plan will be launched at the end of this month and is expected to require $700 million through 2024 – a 10 per cent decrease from 2023 – “which reflects a more prioritized focus on the country’s most severe needs”, he said.

He noted that UN humanitarian aid remains essential, more will be needed to address future challenges, including development assistance and social cohesion programmes.