Doctors Treat 32,000 Refugees Fleeing Mali Conflict

Medical volunteers are bringing relief to thousands of families who crossed the desert border seeking safety from the ongoing conflict in Mali.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has returned to southeastern Mauritania to serve both newly arrived refugees and the communities welcoming them. Many arrive exhausted and traumatized after dangerous journeys, desperately needing medical care.

The teams work across four healthcare facilities in Douenkara, Fassala, Aghor, and Tinagwitine, offering free services to anyone who needs them. Mobile clinics in Abaghé and El Mekhel reach people in more remote areas, ensuring no one is left behind.

This year, doctors have already provided more than 32,000 consultations. That includes 4,109 reproductive health visits for women and mothers, plus specialized care for children suffering from severe malnutrition.

Mental health support has become especially critical. Teams have conducted 851 mental health consultations, helping people process the trauma of displacement and violence they witnessed.

Mauritania now hosts nearly 300,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including about 170,000 Malians. While many fled the 2012 war, new arrivals are escaping the current intensified conflict between armed forces and militant groups.

The Mauritanian communities in Hodh Ech Chargui are sharing what little they have with newcomers. Despite being one of Mauritania's poorest regions, residents continue showing remarkable generosity toward those seeking refuge.

The Ripple Effect

The medical care extends far beyond treating immediate injuries and illnesses. MSF is building a comprehensive support network that includes social services and community referral systems to identify people who need help.

Vaccination programs protect entire communities from disease outbreaks. Nutritional support for malnourished children prevents long-term developmental problems, giving young refugees a chance at healthy futures.

The work also supports local healthcare infrastructure, training staff and strengthening facilities that serve both refugees and Mauritanian residents. This collaboration builds lasting capacity that will benefit the region for years to come.

MSF's commitment runs deep in this region. The organization first worked here from 1992 to 1998, returned from 2012 to 2018, and is now expanding services again to meet urgent needs.

In a world where resources are stretched thin, thousands of people are finding the medical care and compassion they need to begin rebuilding their lives.

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