Forgotten exodus: 300,000 Malians flee jihadist violence as aid dries up in Mauritania camps

A silent humanitarian crisis is unfolding in West Africa as more than 300,000 Malians flee brutal violence since October 2023. Escaping clashes between Malian forces and jihadist groups, families have crossed into eastern Mauritania seeking safety. But survival does not end at the border. Refugee camps are overwhelmed, food is scarce, medical care is thin, and international aid is struggling to keep pace. As displacement grows and funding gaps widen, questions loom over how long refugees can endure and why this crisis remains largely ignored.