Project Overview
Islamic Relief is working in partnership with the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) on this emergency relief project. The project aims to reduce malnutrition and hunger during food shortages in some of the poorest regions of Mali.

Project Background
The Circle of Gourma Rharous is located in the east of Timbuktu, the largest, northernmost region of Mali. Many pastoralist communities have settled in Gourma Rharous. These nomadic herdsmen raise livestock and grow basic crops to survive.

Mali is still feeling the effects of a food crisis that began in 2005 and there are still serious food shortages. Lack of rainfall has worsened the food situation and many people across western and northern Mali are struggling to feed their families.

Project Objectives
Working in partnership with the DEC, Islamic Relief’s Food Security project will work with communities to improve the health and nutritional status of some of the poorest families in nine districts of Gourma Rharous.

Project Activities

• Health and Nutrition

  • Providing malnourished children with nutritional supplements;
  • Providing health centres with medicine;
  • Informing mothers about issues related to health and nutrition;

  Community cereal banks

  • Managed by women’s associations to ensure that food is properly handled and that income generated from the banks goes back to households;
  • Training the associations that will manage the banks;

  School canteens

  • Distributing food to school canteens;
  • Training school management committees;

  Livelihoods support

  • Distributing seeds and agricultural tools to families with low incomes;
  • Training on how to recover livestock and livelihoods;

Beneficiaries
The project was carried out between January and June 2006 and has benefited 100,000 people in Gourma Rharous.