Malaria and war ravage northern Mali’s Azawad region

The people of Azawad, in northern Mali, are facing a dire crisis as malaria spreads rapidly amidst ongoing conflict between Malian forces and armed groups.

With essential infrastructure severely damaged, including healthcare facilities, access to vital medicines and humanitarian aid has been significantly disrupted.

Local sources reported that recent military operations have further crippled the region’s already fragile infrastructure, with health centers destroyed and vaccine supplies dwindling.

The spread of malaria has claimed dozens of lives, including 34 children near the village of Tinzaouatene, where six mass graves were dug in a single day to bury the victims.

Medical professionals have registered thousands of new malaria cases over the past few weeks.

Many of the displaced, who have fled to the Algerian and Mauritanian borders, face daily risks of death due to a severe shortage of medicine.

Appeals for urgent humanitarian assistance have been made to international organizations.

Dr. Hassan Alla Wenahara, a physician working in Azawad, described the situation as critical. “The healthcare system is completely overwhelmed right now,” he said.

Contributing to the crisis are heavy rains and floods, which have worsened the spread of malaria.

Additionally, a severe shortage of anti-malaria medication in hospitals and health centers, coupled with unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation in displacement camps, has exacerbated the problem.

Wenahara stressed that combating malaria in the region requires significant resources, including the cleaning of wetlands, removal of harmful vegetation, and distribution of mosquito nets.

However, these efforts are currently hindered by the lack of funding and security.

This year, Azawad has seen a surge in cases of falciparum malaria, the most dangerous form of the disease, which is known for its resistance to treatment and severe complications.

Dr. Wenahara warned that the number of fatalities, estimated in the hundreds, could rise further due to the lack of reliable data in the war-torn region.

Azawad has been engulfed in conflict since August 2023, as Malian forces, backed by Russian Wagner Group mercenaries, clash with separatist groups fighting for independence.

The fighting has also intensified in recent weeks, with additional confrontations against extremist factions linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Ayoub Ag Shamed, spokesperson for the Imouhagh Justice and Transparency Organization, highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict on healthcare infrastructure.

“The destruction of health facilities has made it nearly impossible for aid and medical services to reach those in need,” he said.

Shamed further explained that large-scale displacement has worsened the spread of the disease, as those fleeing the violence carry infections to overcrowded camps where sanitation is poor, food is scarce, and mental health is deteriorating due to fear and uncertainty.

Efforts to collect donations and medicine are underway, but closed borders have delayed the arrival of much-needed assistance. “The healthcare system is on the brink of collapse,” Shamed added, echoing growing concerns over the worsening health crisis.

According to Mali’s National Malaria Control Program, over three million malaria cases were reported nationwide in 2024. However, due to the security situation in Azawad, the region has borne the brunt of the epidemic, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in a country that faces annual outbreaks, especially during the rainy season.