Poor rainfalls and major locust infestations characterized the 2005 lean season in Mali. Food insecurity in the northern areas of the country ensued, leading to rates of acute child malnutrition up to 18.5%, a rate considered to be above the emergency threshold. In addition to insufficient access to food, a lack of sanitation and health facilities, diseases and inadequate weaning practices are the main causes of malnutrition in Mali.

A woman fetches water in Mali [Photo: WFP]

A nutritional assessment conducted in July 2005 and substantiated by subsequent surveys, revealed that the prevalence of malnutrition was particularly high in the nomadic areas of Gao, Tombouctou and Kidal as well as in the Western Sahel (northern parts of Kayes and Koulikoro regions).

With a $470,800 CERF grant, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is providing therapeutic feeding to an estimated 3,928 children (6 to 59 months) who are severely malnourished.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is using its CERF allocation of $1,514,798 to provide complementary feeding for the families of 34,655 children (6 to 59 months) suffering from moderate malnutrition.

Implementing partners are the Malian Ministry of Health, the Commission for Food Security as well as NGOs.

[Last Update: 26 June 2007]

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CERF in Mali 2007