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Caritas Internationalis Launches Emergency Appeal to Empower Food Producers in Mali

Credit: Lisa Krebs/Caritas Switzerland

The leadership of the global confederation of Catholic relief agencies, Caritas Internationalis (CI), has launched an emergency appeal seeking to empower “vulnerable agricultural producers” in Mali in view of addressing the challenge of household food insecurity in the  West African nation.

In a Thursday, June 9 report, CI officials say Mali is facing “an unprecedented humanitarian crisis” as 4.8 million people in the country are currently food insecure due to the impacts of severe drought in addition to ongoing inter-community violence and unrest. 

Since 2012, CI leadership says, “an absence of administration, access to basic social services and population displacements has created widespread fear and insecurity particularly ahead of this year’s lean season (June to August), in which 1.8 million people are expected to be acutely food insecure.” 

“Caritas Internationalis has launched an Emergency Appeal, on behalf of Caritas Mali, aimed at empowering vulnerable agricultural producers to be food secure during this lean season (the period between planting and harvesting) when job opportunities are scarce,” CI officials say in the June 9 report.

They note that “Caritas Mali, working for the integral development of the human person, does not intend to remain on the sidelines of this imminent humanitarian crisis.”

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“Caritas is calling on Member Organizations and other solidarity partners to come to the aid of vulnerable persons and families currently living within the Dioceses of Bamako, Sikasso and Mopti,” CI leadership says.

CI officials further say that “the Caritas Mali program aims to support 2,550 households (24,225 people) through unconditional cash payments over a two-month period.”

“This project contributes to the Government of Mali’s emergency assistance program as well as the communal social and economic development program (PDSEC),” they add.

Through cash transfers, CI officials say, “Caritas can support farmers to buy food and crops to harvest this season in the hope of averting the risks of widespread famine in the country.”

“The clock is ticking and Caritas is calling on leaders – at the national and international level – to take the necessary action to mobilize resources for the people of Mali in desperate need of humanitarian assistance,” they say.

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CI officials add, “The global community must work together to tackle the scourge of drought and famine afflicting around 6.3 million people.”

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 90 per cent of the rural population of Mali live in conflict zones and fear that the violence will spread to their communities. 

In addition to addressing the challenge food insecurity, CI officials say, “Caritas Mali are working on peace building and social cohesion programs encouraging leaders and communities to work together to restore peace, harmony and stability among locals, migrants, refugees and people on the move in Bamako, Sikasso and Mopti.”

“The total budget of Caritas’ Emergency Appeal amounts to 263,458,125 FCFA / 401,639 Euros for a total duration of 5 months (June – October 2022),” they add.

In their June 9 statement, CI officials appeal for support for the project, saying, “Please click the link to support Caritas Mali’s Emergency Appeal to provide lifesaving support and assistance, particularly during this period when the risks of food insecurity is extremely high and dangerous for the people of Mali.”

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Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.