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FAMILIES in Southern Mali are being driven to debt and hunger, by opening their homes to those fleeing the North – reports children’s charity Plan International.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by fighting – and many have found shelter in the houses of friends and relatives, rather than emergency camps.
“People are really struggling to make ends meet,” says Sadou Maiga, head of Coren, an NGO operating in Ségou.
“On my home visits I am always confronted with tough situations. I think many outside of Ségou don’t understand the crisis that is developing here.”
Abah Cissé a butcher in the town of Ségou, has taken in more than 20 members of his extended family who fled the unrest.
“I am always happy to welcome family members in my house and provide for them, especially in such circumstances. This is what families and friends are for,” says Abah.
Abah has six children between the ages of 18 and 2, and has been forced to cut down on daily meals.
“My household spending has more than doubled to 5000 CFA (£6.50) per day – more often double my daily salary,” explains Abah.
“I had to take several loans from friends to feed everybody. I am crippled with debts and I don’t know how and when I’ll be able to pay them back.”
Plan International is set to deliver aid to more than 50,000 families who are hosting displaced people in the Ségou region.
“People who have fled the North – and their host families - need food, proper sanitation and water,” says Dr Unni Krishnan, Head of Disaster Response at Plan International.
“We will also be investing in education – and placing children and their needs at the centre of relief and recovery.”
“Displaced people are scattered across thousands of homes in towns and villages across the Segou province – making aid delivery very challenging.”
Three of Abah’s latest guests are his cousin Ali, and his wife and child - who abandoned their home amidst fighting in Diabaly.
They made the 10 hour journey by road to Segou and arrived penniless, dehydrated and underweight.
“I sold everything…my sheep, my television,” explains Ali.
Abah says he is trying to set a good example for his children.
“Sometimes the children complain that they are hungry but there is often nothing my wife and I can do about it,” he adds.
“Family matters – you never have too little to share with others.”
For more information on Plan’s work visit www.plan-uk.org<http://www.plan-uk.org/>
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Rose Foley
Senior Media Officer
Plan UK | www.plan-uk.org<http://www.plan-uk.org/>
Direct Line: 0203 217 0257 | Switchboard: 0300 777 9777 / +44 (0)20 7608 1311 (Non-UK) | Mobile: 07964 296431 | Skype: rose_planuk | Address: Finsgate 5-7 Cranwood Street, London EC1V 9LH
Notes to editors
1) Plan is a global children’s charity. We work with children in the world’s poorest countries to help them build a better future. A future you would want for all children, your family and friends. For 75 years we’ve been taking action and standing up for every child’s right to fulfill their potential by:
· giving children a healthy start in life, including access to safe drinking water
· securing the education of girls and boys
· working with communities to prepare for and survive disasters
· inspiring children to take a lead in decisions that affect their lives
· enabling families to earn a living and plan for their children’s future.
We do what’s needed, where it’s needed most. We do what you would do. With your support children, families and entire communities have the power to move themselves from a life of poverty to a future with opportunity.
www.plan.org.uk<http://www.plan.org.uk/>
2) Plan UK is a member of The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella organisation for 14 leading humanitarian aid agencies.
3) We work with children in 50 of the world’s poorest countries to help them build a better future.
4) Plan was founded by British journalist John Langdon-Davies in 1937 to rescue orphans and other vulnerable children from the Spanish Civil War.
6) We have over 100,000 sponsors in the UK, generating £24 million a year, and 1 million sponsored children worldwide
7) Sponsorship starts at £15-a-month and, rather than going to individual children and their families, funds projects to improve schooling, health, nutrition and livelihoods across communities.
8) Plan's activities are guided by the principals of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and other internationally-recognised human rights treaties, and is informed by the local context and knowledge of the country and region.
Rose Foley
Senior Media Officer
Plan UK | www.plan-uk.org<http://www.plan-uk.org/>
Direct Line: 0203 217 0257 | Switchboard: 0300 777 9777 / +44 (0)20 7608 1311 (Non-UK) | Mobile: 07964 296431 | Skype: rose_planuk | Address: Finsgate 5-7 Cranwood Street, London EC1V 9LH Follow us: Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/planuk> | Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/planuk>
[Visit plan-uk.org]<http://www.plan-uk.org/>
