Burkina Faso: Malteser International provides assistance to Mali refugees

Malteser International supports transport of refugees to health care centres

Order of Malta France distributes tents, organises ambulances for the transportation of refugees and trains young Malians from the refugee camps in first aid techniques.

To address the critical situation of Mali refugees in northern Burkina Faso, Malteser International will support the French association of the Order of Malta in transporting sick refugees to the region's health care centres. The looming food and malnutrition crisis in the Sahel region due to recent droughts, poor harvests and rising grain prices, as well as the fighting between Tuareg rebels and Mali’s military forces following the coup of 22 March have forced more than 300,000 Malians to flee to neighbouring countries such as Mauretania, Niger, Algeria and Burkina Faso. In Burkina Faso alone, 55,000 refugees have arrived at the refugee camps on the south-eastern and northern borders with Mali.

Order of Malta France has been active in Burkina Faso for 10 years and provides humanitarian relief in the areas of first aid and ambulance services. In Bobo Dioulasso, in the south-east, our French partners distribute tents and wheelchairs for disabled persons and organise ambulances for the transportation of refugees in need. In addition, they train young Malians from the refugee camps in first aid techniques.

In 2009, Malteser International had already worked closely with Order of Malta France to provide emergency relief for flood victims in Ouagadougou.