Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


UN: Malians Need Protection as Country Descends into Chaos

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA - The U.N. refugee agency is urging countries to provide
   international protection and asylum to people fleeing the increasingly
   chaotic conditions in Mali.

   The country's 2015 peace and reconciliation agreement has all but
   collapsed as several rebel groups affiliated with a loose coalition of
   militias have failed to respect its provisions. The U.N. refugee agency
   says the armed factions and Islamist extremist groups operating in the
   country have been escalating the fighting.

   The conflict, which had been mainly waged in northern Mali, has spread
   to the central Mopti region and some parts of the southern region.
   Government authorities and institutions are largely powerless to stop
   the increasing turmoil, according to the U.N.

   UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic says civilians, politicians, civil
   servants and security forces are being targeted and killed. Local
   populations, particularly in central regions, report widespread human
   rights violations, including summary executions, disappearances,
   torture and arbitrary arrests.

   "The crisis has a devastating and disproportionate effect on Malian
   children," Mahecic said. "Children are being forcibly recruited by
   armed groups, kidnapped and killed. More than 285,000 children are
   being denied education due to school closures."

.