Mali

Introduction

Mali is grappling with a worsening humanitarian and security crisis, as armed groups exert control over large parts of the country and civilians face arbitrary violence.

Millions require urgent assistance, especially in the conflict-hit north and centre. Attacks and threats against civilians are causing mass displacement and a new refugee influx into Mauritania. 

Mali’s complex crisis is also impacted by: 

• socio-political tensions
• climate shocks such as drought and floods
• epidemics

The EU, as a leading donor, supports vulnerable Malians in hard-to-reach areas with humanitarian aid.

Facts & figures

Through its humanitarian efforts, the EU provides vital support to those most in need.

EU humanitarian funding:

Almost €568 million since 2012

What are the needs?

The political, economic, and security context in Mali, under military rule since 2020, has continued to deteriorate. Rising non-state armed group activity within Mali is putting civilians in the crossfire of conflict, which are oftentimes the target of attacks. Since 2012, Mali’s conflict has severely impacted millions of civilians, with a continued increase in violence and breaches of international humanitarian law.

During 2025, almost 50,000 human rights violations have been reported. Between January and November 2025, Mali recorded 753 humanitarian incidents - a 40% increase compared to 2024 - marking a stark deterioration in terms of access to those in need.

Intensifying conflict, economic downturn, and severe fuel shortages in the past months have led to: 

• food scarcity
• disrupted livelihoods

Displaced people

Over 5 million people, almost 20% of the Malian population, are in need of humanitarian aid. Urban centres, often under blockade by armed groups, are swelling with displaced people - 414,000 are currently internally displaced. 

Insecurity in neighbouring countries across the Sahel is also leading to widespread displacement: 

Mali is currently hosting more than 165,000 Burkinabe and Nigerien refugees, fleeing instability in both countries. 

Most Burkinabe are settled in the city of Koro and its surroundings, putting severe pressure on host communities and already limited basic services. Particular attention needs to be paid to refugees settled outside the urban centre.

Acute food insecurity threatens 1.56 million people in 2026, while more than 227,000 children suffer from severe malnutrition. Pockets of famine-like situations are reported in northern Mali as well as areas with severe acute malnutrition rates – especially concerning among displaced populations – in northern and central Mali. People settled in sites and those in blockaded cities need all the basics: 

Health facilities

4% of health facilities are non-functioning due to insecurity and lack of staff and supplies. An estimated 1.9 million people need help accessing healthcare. Attacks and threats to healthcare in Mali continue, which affect medical personnel and material, leading to exacerbated health needs across the country, including those related to war-wounded and obstetric/neonatal care. 

Protection

A rise in violence has pushed protection assistance needs to 3.4 million people. Gender-based violence is becoming a greater concern in Mali, with underreporting being one of the main aspects. Education is affected too, with nearly 2,349 schools closed and 712,000 children out of school. 

How are we helping?

The EU is a leading donor of assistance to people in need in Mali. Since 2012, it has provided almost €568 million in humanitarian aid, including an initial €25 million in 2026. These funds support around 20 humanitarian partners assisting displaced and conflict-affected populations through:

• food aid and nutrition care, including emergency food assistance, therapeutic food and essential medicines
• health services, vaccination support, and emergency referrals in insecure areas
• protection and psychosocial support, particularly for survivors of violence
• education in emergencies to keep displaced children and children in areas affected by conflict in school
• emergency shelter, essential household items and support on access to water and hygiene services
• rapid-response mechanisms for newly displaced families

EU humanitarian aid in Mali addresses the most urgent needs of displaced and vulnerable people in conflict-affected and fragile areas. In response to rising needs and severe access constraints, assistance focuses both on internally displaced people and on populations trapped in conflict zones with limited supplies and collapsing social services. The protection of civilians remains central to the EU’s needs-based and conflict-sensitive approach.

EU-funded aid continues to be a lifeline for populations in blockaded towns and hard-to-reach zones in northern and central Mali, where humanitarian access has complexified.

The EU-supported rapid response mechanism provides newly displaced people with the basic essentials. It also delivers swift support in health, protection, and education when crises erupt.

Emergency food and medical aid

During the lean season, when food stocks run low, emergency food aid is provided to communities facing severe food insecurity. Partners deliver health and nutrition care to the most vulnerable in areas where such care is otherwise inaccessible. Each year, the EU also helps tackle severe acute malnutrition  by funding the purchase and supply of therapeutic food and essential medicines for children.

Protection and education

In addition, EU-funded organisations provide protection and education to displaced and out-of-school children. Where feasible, assistance is delivered through cash transfers and vouchers, allowing families to meet their most pressing needs. 

Other challenges

To address the challenges of a highly constrained operational environment, the EU supports the coordination of humanitarian actors as well as security analysis, logistics, and aviation services through its contribution to the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS).

Finally, the EU strives to ensure coherence between immediate humanitarian assistance and initiatives that address the root causes of crises. Efforts continue to ensure complementarity between humanitarian and development aid in Mali despite mounting constraints and an increasingly complex crisis. With EU support, people in need can gradually strengthen their resilience to recurrent shocks, making them less vulnerable over time.