Escalating conflict, blockades, increased displacement, humanitarian funding cuts pushing people in Mali to the brink

A poisonous cocktail of escalating conflict, blockades, increased displacement, and humanitarian funding cuts is pushing people in Mali to the brink. Families are cutting back on meals, and many children are unable to attend school, warns the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

For years, the epicentre of the crisis in Mali has been in the north and centre of the country. But in the last quarter of 2025, armed incursions have shifted to the south, extending the scope of human suffering. 

In September, armed groups launched a fuel blockade against Mali’s capital Bamako, attacking fuel tankers, and targeting villages in the south of the country. The fuel blockade precipitated an unprecedented fuel scarcity in the south and centre of the country and exacerbated the socio-economic and humanitarian situation. 

“It is deeply worrying to see the conflict spread to the south, an area known as the food basket of the country. The end of the year is usually the start of agricultural harvests. People being displaced and unable to manage their fields is a precursor for food insecurity,” said Maclean Natugasha, NRC’s country director for Mali.

At the same time, the country has been hit by severe cuts in funding for humanitarian assistance. The humanitarian response plan for Mali is just 18 per cent funded – making it the lowest funded response in Africa. The total funding available has been slashed in half, from 285 million US dollars in 2024 to 141 million US dollars so far this year. 

“The impact of the funding cuts for the whole humanitarian sector is painfully visible in Mali,” said Natugasha. “Field offices have closed and messages have been sent by humanitarian organisations to communities and authorities in the places where they had to exit. Health facilities are reducing their services, and we have received reports of protection concerns as some girls and women are forced to adopt extreme coping mechanisms like sex work in some displacement sites.” 

NRC is particularly concerned about the impact of the aid cuts on children. As of end of October,  more than 2,000 schools in the conflict-affected regions remain closed, impacting the prospects of almost 700,000 children and 14,000 teachers.

“It is essential to provide education for these children, both for their psychosocial health today, but also to give them hope for a brighter future. However, the education sector has been particularly hard hit by this year’s funding cuts,” Natugasha added. 

For people in Mali, the situation has left many with a feeling of being abandoned. 

“People came to our village and destroyed everything, our homes, our granaries, our belongings,” said Djenaba, a woman from the village of Saré-Ma, in the Mopti region. “They took our animals and killed people. They ordered us to leave the village. We left with nothing. We found refuge here. When we arrived, the host community helped us with some clothing and shoes. We are still hoping to receive more support.”

“There is a need for a revamp of international solidarity with people facing crisis. Mali is on the brink. Donors must step up and provide both urgent and long-term funding to help communities survive today and rebuild their future,” said Natugasha.