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palliative care & oncology service in Bamako
Access to medical care remains very limited in the north and centre of Mali due to a lack of medical staff and supplies and spiralling violence between armed groups.

MSF works across Mali to assist the most vulnerable people. We are responding to the growing crisis in the central region, providing healthcare to nomadic communities in the north and caring for cancer patients in Bamako, the capital.

We also support nutrition and paediatric services in the southern Koutiala district. 

Mali Explainer Animation ENG
video

Understanding the crisis in Mali

Mali: Understanding the humanitarian crisis

Headlines about Mali often focus on conflict and security concerns. But these stories obscure the reality for people living through a six-year long crisis.

With 130,000 refugees already in neighbouring countries, more than one million people inside Mali are now in urgent need of health assistance.

This short video animation explains why.

Our activities in 2023 in Mali

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2023.

MSF in Mali in 2023 Amid escalating violence and increasing attacks on our staff and facilities, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams continued to deliver essential healthcare to displaced people and war-wounded patients in Mali.
Mali IAR map 2023

Violence against civilians intensified during the year, prompting displacement, particularly in the country's northern and central regions. Others were trapped in cities and villages by armed groups or impacted by intercommunal conflict. Violence in northeast Mali also caused movements of people, especially around Ansongo and Gao, where we continue to provide humanitarian aid and treat the wounded.

Many international humanitarian organisations withdrew from areas affected by fighting, as they were unable to gain access to people in need. Our teams remained in Koro and Douentza, in the central region of Mopti, responding to the needs of displaced people and assisting refugees from neighbouring Burkina Faso.

MSF and other NGOs were also subjected to violence during the year; staff were kidnapped and assaulted, MSF-supported health facilities were looted, and our ambulances were attacked. In November, we were forced to evacuate our teams from Kidal, Boni and Nampala due to a marked deterioration in security in these areas. Nevertheless, we continue to run medical activities and provide humanitarian aid to people in remote areas affected by the conflict.

In addition to caring for the war-wounded and responding to the needs of displaced people, our teams provided a range of medical services, including maternal and paediatric care, screening and treatment for malnutrition, mental health care, and emergency surgery across all our projects in the country.

In the capital, Bamako, we continued our project in partnership with the Ministry of Health, which focuses on providing care for women with breast or cervical cancer.

 

In 2023
 
Violent hostilities between armed men are emptying villages in northern Mali
Refugees, IDPs and people on the move

Violent hostilities between armed men empty villages in northern Mali

Project Update 2 Aug 2024
 
To be in the most difficult places is perhaps a fortunate misfortune
Mali

People at serious risk as violence escalates in Mali

Project Update 11 Dec 2023
 
Pink October campaign in Bamako
Mali

Three questions on the challenges of treating cancer in Mali

Interview 11 Nov 2021
 
MSF Clinic: inpatient department and surgical capacity, Gogrial, Warrap State. South Sudan
Mali

Patient dies after an MSF ambulance is violently detained in Mali

Press Release 7 Jan 2021
 
Neglected crisis in central Mali
Mali

Central Mali: no choice but to flee

Project Update 22 Dec 2020
 
Measles Vaccination Campaign in Timbuktu
Mali

Prevention is better than cure – vaccinating against measles in Timbuktu

Project Update 27 Oct 2020

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19 November 2020