Mali’s security and humanitarian crisis deepened in July 2025, with instability in Timbuktu, Gao, Mopti, and Menaka severely disrupting essential services. Armed attacks, blockades, and displacement — with women and girls making up 58 per cent of the 402,000 displaced people — have left fewer than a quarter of health facilities functional. Access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care and gender-based violence (GBV) services is critically limited, exposing women and girls to heightened risks of complications, sexual violence, forced marriage, and exploitation. Rising food prices and political instability are compounding vulnerabilities.
UNFPA and partners scaled up protective services despite severe constraints. In July, 88 midwives were deployed to remote facilities, supporting over 1,200 assisted deliveries, more than 2,200 antenatal consultations, and 3,500 new users of family planning. Awareness campaigns reached thousands in displacement sites, while mobile teams provided curative consultations. For GBV response, safe spaces hosted nearly 500 participants, 600 dignity and menstrual hygiene kits were distributed, and six one-stop centres continued to deliver holistic survivor care. UNFPA also trained community actors on GBV prevention and reached more than 3,000 adolescents and youth with SRH and GBV awareness.
Despite these efforts, the funding situation remains critical. UNFPA requires US$16.5 million for its 2025 humanitarian response in Mali but had mobilized only US$3.4 million by mid-year, leaving an 80 per cent gap. This shortfall has already forced the closure of specialized centres and reduced supplies, placing lifesaving SRH and GBV services at risk. Without urgent donor support, thousands of women and girls will be left without essential care and protection.
