EMERGENCY AID

Necessity knows no law. It is not our regular work to distribute food but this time there was no other option. In May this year, the four villages of Ibi Kara, Boutingué, Inriwin and Gorogonou became victims of an attack by Peul rebels. Houses and possessions were set on fire and around a thousand men, women and children were forced to seek refuge with family members in other villages. For ADI, our local partners, this was the reason to take immediate action because many of the displaced women are members of ADI’s women’s program. We could not leave them in the cold.

In June, the displaced families were visited. The ADI team distributed mosquito nets and WakaWaka lamps and made an inventory of the basic necessities. In addition to lack of clothing, water and money for medical care, one thing was immediately established: without food aid, families with an average of six to eight children would not survive the coming months. Their own supplies had gone up in flames, the rainy season had yet to begin and the harvest time was still far away. A major distribution action was then set in motion at breakneck speed. Not a simple assignment for ADI: where do you suddenly get so much millet from and how do you get it, in a fairly unsafe situation, and distribute it without chaos? In consultation and cooperation with the local mayors, a first distribution round was organized on 18 July for 1003 displaced persons. A month later on August 19 followed the second round and in September a third in the hope that the families managed to get through the most difficult period and are now able return to their villages. With regard to the latter, the latest messages are positive. The security situation seems to have improved and the first male family members have already returned and started reconstruction work.

Would you like to give a hand? The costs of the – we hope – last distribution round are € 3, – per person. ADI can still use your help to distribute food with total cost of € 3,000. You can help us with a donation via https://partnerspaysdogon.nl/nl/steun-ons/ o.v.v. emergency intervention Ibi.