Malian Refugees in Mauritania Have Severe Psychological and Bodily Wounds

A regular stream of Malian refugees with serious psychological trauma and physical injuries are being treated by humanitarian workers at a medical facility in eastern Mauritania. Doctors Without Borders is providing care for those who have fled neighboring Mali, where years of conflict have driven hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, in the village of Doueinkara.

According to MSF coordinator Mayoury Savant, “we are also seeing sexual violence affecting both women and men.” Additionally, we have heard accounts of torture. We were informed by several that they were buried alive.

Many of the refugees coming in the Hodh Chargui region of Mauritania have fled the unrest in northern Mali, where towns are still being devastated by armed groups, military operations, and continuing attacks.

Cherifa, whose name has been altered to conceal her identity, claims that losing her son continues to be her biggest suffering. The death of my son is what I feel most deeply and suffer from at the very core of my being,” she claims.

Nedoune, another refugee, says he only wants to go back home when the violence stops. He declares, “I will return to Mali as soon as they stop killing people and destroying their property.” “They burn everything you own, even if they spare your life.”

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