Since late November 2024, severe flooding from the Niger River has devastated parts of Timbuktu and Mopti of Mali. It is displacing thousands, destroying infrastructure, and disrupting essential services.  

With over 6,700 households affected, communities face urgent needs for food, shelter, and healthcare. Islamic Relief Mali launched an emergency response to provide immediate relief and support long-term recovery. However, more aid is critical to address this escalating crisis. 

The Escalating Flooding Situation in Mali

Mali has been experiencing above-average rainfall since July 2024. The ongoing rains and devastating floods in the Niger River have caused overflows, affecting all communes located along the river strip.  

By November 27, 2024, severe flooding from the Niger River impacted communes in Gourma Rharous and Douentza circles, within Timbuktu and Mopti regions.  

Now, as of December 5, 2024, over 153 villages with 6,758 households have been affected by the floods. The disaster has devastated agriculture, livestock, and homes. It is destroying farmlands and disrupting pastoral activities and essential resource access. 

Increasing Damage from the Floods 

The floods have caused extensive damage, destroying homes, latrines, livestock, farmland, and essential services like schools, health centers, and water points.  

Floods have also devastated livelihoods, severely impacting rice crops before harvest and submerging grazing areas, leaving livestock without access to food and resources. 

This has displaced many Mali citizens, increasing their risks of waterborne diseases, early hunger, undernutrition, and food insecurity. 

A majority of affected households (84%) households struggle to make ends meet, while almost half (48%) are homeless or displaced, living with family.  

Most (82%) households have also lost everything. 52% of households need social protection, while 72% collect their drinking water from unprotected wells.  

The situation demands urgent humanitarian assistance to address the critical needs of affected communities. 

Currently, the government and other agencies are assessing the extent of the damage. with initial reports highlighting significant destruction.  

Islamic Relief’s Response to Mali Emergency 

Islamic Relief’s local teams are on the ground conducting ongoing assessments, which will provide updates on damages, impacted populations, and humanitarian response efforts. Ensuring a coordinated, efficient response that promptly addresses the needs of affected communities. 

They are also beginning immediate distribution of food, non-food items (NFI), and shelter assistance. This will impact 215 flood-affected households in the communes of Banikane, Séréré, Rharous, and Hamzakoma.  

Our teams plan an urgent intervention to provide food, non-food items (NFI), and shelter assistance to affected households in the Rharous circle. Specifically in the communes of Banikane, Rharous, Séréré, and Hamzakoma.  

Each family will be provided with cash vouchers that allow them to purchase the relief items they need.  

The local Islamic Relief team in Mali is also coordinating with the relevant authorities, other humanitarian actors to ensure our response is timely and appropriate.  

In the short and long term, Islamic Relief will take the resilience actions required to rebuild families’ livelihoods.  

This includes the construction and rehabilitation of housing, village irrigation schemes, market gardening schemes, water points, schools, and other important facilities. There will also be the provision of agricultural inputs and equipment.  

The overall situation in Northern and Centre Mali is increasingly precarious. Especially due to the effects of flood and the situation is deteriorating by the day. Continued support and immediate action are essential to address the vulnerabilities faced by local communities and displaced families.  

The flooding persists, with the potential to exacerbate material damage, and the situation remains alarming.