The Italian Ambassador to Mali, Stefano A. Dejak, alongside the Regional Director of AICS, Giovanni Grandi, participated, together with the Minister for Food Security, Redouane ag Mohamed Ali, in the delivery of a batch of food items to orphanages in Bamako, Koutiala, and Douentza.
This delivery is part of the project “Regional Emergency Initiative for populations affected by the humanitarian crisis in Mali and Senegal“, amounting to a total of €4.1 million, funded by Italy through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
The project specifically addresses the urgent need in Mali to assist children most affected by the humanitarian crisis, victims of the loss of their parents due to the ongoing conflicts in central Mali with jihadist groups such as the al-Qaeda coalition “Support Group for Islam and Muslims” (JNIM) or the Islamic State in the Sahara, both of which are also mentioned in the latest “Global Terrorist Index” as responsible for the largest extremist massacres in the world, particularly in the central regions of Mali, such as Douentza and Koutiala.
The Malian Minister for Food Security, Redouane ag Mohamed Ali, expressed his sincere gratitude to Italy for the emergency food assistance, which includes the batch delivered to the orphanages in Bamako, Koutiala, and Douentza, as well as for parallel projects aimed at job creation, such as the “Brigades Vertes” agricultural project, worth ten million euros, underway in the Kayes region, which aims to ensure both food security and employment opportunities.
Ambassador Dejak reminded that the delivery of food items is part of Italy’s broader commitment to food security, rural and environmental development, support for renewable energy, education, and private sector development in Mali.
