Thousands seek refuge from violence in Mali

A Malian refugee pulls a jerrican of water at the Mbere refugee camp on May 3, near Bassiknou, southern Mauritania, 60 km from the border with Mali. The fighting in Mali has left more than 60,000 people internally displaced, and a similar number have fled to Mauritania and neighboring countries. Camp Mbere, spread out over a surface area of some 570 km2 receives an average of 1,000 refugees per day, some days even more. According to the LWF representative, in mid-April the camp population was over 55,000, of which more than half were children.

A view of refugees walking at the Mbere refugee camp on May 3, near Bassiknou, southern Mauritania, 60 km from the border with Mali.

Malian refugees sit in the back of a pick up as they arrive at the Mbere refugee camp on May 3, near Bassiknou, southern Mauritania, 60 km from the border with Mali.

A Malian refugee mother lulls her baby to sleep under a UNHCR tent at the Mbere refugee camp on May 3, near Bassiknou, southern Mauritania, 60 km from the border with Mali.