With support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Mali Red Cross is carrying out an aid operation for families affected by the flooding resulting from torrential rains that fell on the city of Gao at the end of August.

The flooding destroyed around 100 houses and left several dozen families without shelter. Those who lost their homes also lost all their food reserves and now rely mainly on the families that took them in. Because food prices are rising, the host families could be destabilized by their own generosity.

Mali Red Cross volunteers are distributing rice, oil, tarpaulins, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, soap and cooking utensils to almost 100 families. These items should tide them over until the next harvest in a month’s time.

The ICRC has been working in Mali since 1991. It has offices in Bamako and in Gao, where it cooperates closely with the Mali Red Cross. The aid operation currently under way ties in with the ICRC’s efforts to boost the National Society’s emergency response capacity.

International Committee of the Red Cross