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Current Requirements (US$)$771.3 million
Crisis overview
Mali continues to grapple with a multifaceted humanitarian crisis mainly driven by persistent conflict-related violence and climate shocks. In 2024, the crisis was exacerbated by unprecedented extreme heat and floods. With over one-third of the population in need of humanitarian assistance, declining funding has forced humanitarian partners to reduce the amount of aid, prioritizing continued support to the most vulnerable, particularly those in remote areas. As of 25 November 2024, the HNRP 2024, which targets 4.1 million people for humanitarian assistance, was 35 per cent funded.
In 2024, as Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and their partners intensified operations against armed actors, these actors staged an increased number of blockades on villages, retaliatory and deliberate attacks against FAMa and civilians, and imposed heavy road taxes and restrictions on commercial transport. At the same time, security and defense forces from neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso also increased their operations against these armed groups. As a result, the operational environment for humanitarians has become increasingly complex, with organizations and civilians notably exposed to risks of being caught in crossfire, falling victim to improvised explosive devices, car jackings, abductions, and temporary detention. The insecure context has led to significant internal and cross-border displacements and has restricted access to basic services for the most vulnerable populations.
Socoura displacement site, Mopti Region, Mali
After fleeing violence, Aminata and her family have found refuge at the Socoura displacement site. With the support of humanitarian partners, she can now cook for her grandchildren using the resources provided, bringing a sense of normalcy to their challenging new life.
OCHA/Amadou KaneAs of 30 September, some 378,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were recorded and nearly 123,000 refugees were settled in central Mali–an 84 per cent increase compared to December 2023. Women and children account for over 50 per cent of the displaced people in Mali and face chronic nutrition, protection, shelter and education needs. In March 2024, the results of the “Cadre harmonisé” recorded 1.3 million people (6 per cent of the population) facing hunger, especially in Gao and Menaka regions. Mali was the only country in West Africa with populations at catastrophic hunger levels, with 2,575 people in IPC 5 in the Menaka region. As of 30 October, 5.1 million people were considered in need of nutrition assistance, with 2.8 million in the emergency phase. The 5.1 million figure marked a 6 per cent increase from last year. Nutrition projections indicate further deterioration in 2025 with more areas expected to shift into the ''alert'' and ''critical'' categories.
The protection environment has also deteriorated with over 22,000 human rights violations documented from January to July 2024, including conflict-related sexual violence, violations of children’s rights and violations to the right to life, physical and/or mental integrity. Nearly 1.8 million children, between the ages of 6 and 17, are currently deprived of their right to education. School disruptions caused by conflict, climate change and displacement expose children to increased risks of abuse, violence and exploitation while also hindering their development.
This year, climate change became a key driver of vulnerability in Mali. Between July 2024 and the end of October, unprecedented flooding hit all regions of the country, resulting in 92 deaths, 154 people injured and nearly 380,000 affected. The floods also destroyed close to 43,400 houses and buildings, hundreds of water points and some 86,000 acres of crops, raising serious concerns over increases in shelter, WASH, health, food and nutritional needs across the country in 2025.
Humanitarian needs across sectors are expected to grow in 2025 while the operational environment for humanitarian partners in Mali will remain complex. Despite this, humanitarian agencies remain able to deliver assistance in most areas, relying heavily on community engagement and coordination to support ongoing access.
Gao Region, Mali
Young children under five at the Sossokoira displacement site face severe risks of malnutrition, their vulnerability intensified by ongoing violence and displacement. Humanitarian aid is crucial to protect these children and provide essential support to affected families.
OCHA/Ramatoulaye Moussa MazouResponse priorities in 2025
While over a third of Malians require some form of humanitarian assistance and protection, the HNRP 2024 targeted 4.1 million people (including 23 per cent women and 54 per cent children) for emergency multisectoral assistance to ensure their survival and alleviate their suffering.
In 2025, the humanitarian response in Mali will focus on the most vulnerable populations heavily impacted by core humanitarian concerns, including displacements, conflict-related violence, food insecurity, malnutrition, epidemics and climate shocks, including the unprecedented floods recorded during the second semester of 2024. Humanitarian partners will focus on areas where these challenges intersect most severely while maintaining advocacy for development actors to intensify their support in areas where populations face structural challenges. The number of people in need is therefore expected to reach 5.9 million, a decrease of 21 per cent compared to 2024.
Harvesting hope
As of 30 September, 378,000 people were internally displaced in Mali, 86 per cent of whom were women and children fleeing conflict and violence. At a time when few welcome strangers, 65-year-old Aly Guindo opened his home to displaced families in Socoura, Mali's Bandiagara region. His support went further, sharing his land to help them earn a living and rekindle hope for the future.
"We traveled 50 km to find shelter in Socoura," recalled Binta Togo, a displaced woman hosted by Guindo. “We had nothing when we arrived. He welcomed us into his home and our source of income became the sale of produce from the garden.”
Guindo hosted eight displaced families through the Jigi Tugu (Building Hope) project, which provided hosts like him and vulnerable people the tools and training to engage in sustainable agriculture. Funded by OCHA's Regional Humanitarian Fund for West and Central Africa and implemented by the NGOs CARE Mali and YA-G-TU, the project empowered displaced people with income-generating activities.
A farmer by trade, Guindo was trained in gardening techniques adapted to Mali's varying climate. He also received seeds, tools and organic fertilizer through the project. The project changed families’ lives for the better, allowing them to live with dignity through this community-based initiative.
Financial requirements
An estimated $756.8 million is required to meet life-saving needs and deteriorating living conditions of 4.6 million people. This represents an 8 per cent increase in funding requirements compared to 2024.
As in 2024, the Humanitarian Country Team in Mali used a streamlined methodology, merging the HNO and HRP while applying the Joint and Cross-Sectoral Analysis Framework for an improved analysis of intersectoral humanitarian needs against major shocks including conflict, floods, and epidemics. Considering capacity constraints and the declining global funding landscape, the number of people targeted and estimated costs remain strictly focused on humanitarian caseloads. The main innovation for 2025 is the use of a hybrid costing methodology based on both activities and projects to improve transparency and governance. The HNRP 2025 will be driven by two strategic objectives:
- Save lives and alleviate suffering for people affected by recurrent shocks through safe, equitable, inclusive multisectoral assistance based on humanitarian principles.
- Improve inclusive, timely and appropriate access to quality basic services for people affected by recurrent shocks in line with fundamental rights and standards.
Evolution de la réponse humanitaire
22-Jan-2026
Evolution de la réponse humanitaire
| Année | Type | Personnes dans le besoin | Personnes ciblées | Besoins financiers ($) | Financement ($) | % Financé |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
6.4 million
|
4.7 million
|
$771.3 million
|
$161.5 million
|
20.9%
|
|
| 2024 |
7.1 million
|
4.1 million
|
$701.6 million
|
$307.8 million
|
43.9%
|
|
| 2023 |
8.8 million
|
5.7 million
|
$751.5 million
|
$240.8 million
|
32%
|
|
| 2022 |
7.5 million
|
5.3 million
|
$685.7 million
|
$304.2 million
|
44.4%
|
|
| 2021 |
5.9 million
|
4.7 million
|
$563.3 million
|
$228.3 million
|
40.5%
|
|
| 2020 |
6.8 million
|
5.5 million
|
$474.3 million
|
$235.4 million
|
49.6%
|
|
| 2019 |
3.2 million
|
2.3 million
|
$324 million
|
$167.5 million
|
51.7%
|
|
| 2018 |
5.2 million
|
2.9 million
|
$329.6 million
|
$179 million
|
54.3%
|
|
| 2017 |
HRP
|
|
|
$304.7 million
|
$142.2 million
|
46.7%
|
| 2016 |
HRP
|
|
|
$354.1 million
|
$146.2 million
|
41.3%
|
2024 in review: Response highlights and consequences of inaction
Response highlights
Between January and June 2024, despite chronic underfunding and increased logistical constraints, humanitarian partners in Mali provided assistance to nearly 750,000 people, nearly 20 per cent of 4.1 million people targeted as part of the HNRP 2024. This overall figure includes:
Protection
200,700 people who received holistic protection services
Education
147,200 who received educational support
Food security and nutrition
Food security and nutrition partners provided lifesaving assistance to nearly 742,000 people countrywide during this period.
During the first half of the year:
Protection
200,700 people from host and displaced communities benefited from essential protection services
Education
323,000 children accessed quality education in adequate environments
Water, sanitation and hygiene
Water, sanitation and hygiene partners reached 212,500 people
Health
153,800 people received health assistance
Shelter and NFIs
62,000 people received shelters and non-food items
Refugee response
The refugee response reached 43,100 people
By the end of 2024, humanitarian partners project they will have assisted 1.5 million people nationwide.
Consequences of inaction
Underfunding
Food security
As of late October, only 25 per cent of the funding needed for food assistance has been received, leaving 1.3 million people in acute hunger, including 700,000 in food crisis and 2.9 million in food stress. Children under five and pregnant women suffer from acute malnutrition, particularly in IDP sites in the Mopti, Gao and Ménaka regions, where prevalence rates exceed 15 per cent.
Nutrition
In 2024, 1.4 million children under the age of five suffered from acute malnutrition, including 300,000 in severe stages, while over 88,000 pregnant women were also acutely malnourished. Lack of funding has forced humanitarian actors to scale back their operations, resulting in deteriorating conditions for vulnerable groups, particularly in remote areas.
Shelter
Between January and October 2024, insufficient resources meant only 10 per cent of emergency shelter needs for displaced people were covered. As a result, 2.37 million people remained without adequate shelter, exposing them to new risks, particularly during the recent floods in Ménaka, Gao and Timbuktu.
Education
The education sector received only 5 per cent of the funds required as of late October, leaving 1.8 million children out of school. The lack of resources has kept over 90 per cent of schools non-functional, affecting 540,000 pupils and 11,000 teachers, particularly in the Kidal and Ménaka regions.
Health
With only 30 per cent of required funding, health services remain extremely limited. Refugees and IDPs face increased risks of measles, dengue fever and other diseases with epidemic potential, increasing health vulnerabilities in affected regions.
Leading on women's empowerment
Forced to flee due to insecurity four years ago, Mariam Guindo founded the Kana Women’s Association, bringing together 60 members, including 15 internally displaced women. Thanks to income-generating activities, the group became self-sufficient. With support from the Regional Humanitarian Fund for West and Central Africa, Mariam empowered women in her community by providing gardening kits, seeds, organic fertilizer tools, and training. Under her leadership, the women expanded their activities to include peanut oil production from groundnuts, helping contribute to their household’s expenses. Beyond the economic impact, Mariam led awareness sessions, identified cases of GBV for follow-up, and helped survivors reintegrate. "Awareness and education are key elements for social change and the promotion of women's rights. This kind of initiative promotes the development of entire communities beyond subsistence," she said.