There could be "severe humanitarian consequences" for children in
Mali unless immediate steps are taken to guarantee their security, says
World Vision.
“Children are especially vulnerable when military operations are
launched, and this latest move has to be managed carefully and those who
would like to flee have a safe passage out,” says Chance Briggs, the
head of World Vision’s Mali office.
France began its military intervention in Mali on Friday in a bid to bring Islamist militants under control.
French fighters have launched air strikes on insurgent training camps, reportedly killing scores of rebels.
World Vision called upon governments involved in the northern
offensive to take steps to ensure the safety of children and access for
humanitarian organisations like World Vision.
“It would be intolerable to see more children separated from their
parents, displaced from their homes, or cramped in refugee camps for
weeks on end, not knowing where to go next or when they will be able to
begin rebuilding their lives," said Briggs.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
estimates that more than 400,000 people have fled their homes, and World
Vision fears that the military offensive will displace thousands more.
Briggs added: “Last year was a particularly difficult year for
children around the country, and the ongoing conflict in the north
threatens them further. Their needs must be prioritised, and
international humanitarian law abided by at every step."