wfp:

Mali, Mopti October 2012

In response to the conflict situation that is taking place in Mali as of the month of may WFP started delivering aid to the populations affected by the crisis in the country. 

Currently WFP is assisting 41,000 IDP’ s in Mopti that have relocated from the north southwards to flee the conflict areas.

WFP is using barges to move the food into the northern regions of the country simply because it has proven the fastest and safest way to enter the rebel held areas of Mali. The barge takes about 48 hours to reach Toumbouctou while by truck the same trip would take several days due to the check points situated along the way.

Barges (Pinace)  are of different sizes and can load between 90 and 30 metric tones, every four or five days four or five barges depart to bring the food to Timbouctou.

There are challenges  mainly for security and accessibility reasons but also due to the  damaged infrastructure otherwise it would be fairly straight forward to drive the commodities to the north where given the tough security situation WFP partners with national NGO’s to provide assistance to the people in need of the and deliver the food,

All photos: WFP/Rein Skullerud