Girls Taking on Role of Mothers During Conflict

Separated from their parents during the conflict, South Sudan’s teenage refugee girls
are taking on the role of mothers to their younger siblings in the Uganda camps. However, getting back to school – and normality – is key if the girls are to escape the burden of early parenthood, and survive the crisis with their education intact.

“We started hearing the gun shots while our parents were out, and we tried to stay at home, but we heard people screaming. So we packed our things and left.” Læs mere her!

Mali conflict: Mohammed, the guitarist

Watch the clip to meet Mohammed, 'the guitarist' - a young boy who was forced to leave his home and guitar behind due to the conflict in Mali.

Now sheltering in a refugee camp with thousands of other displaced childen and adults in Mentao, he finds joy in playing the guitar at the Plan-supported children's centre set up there.

"I like it when people clap their hands and dance when we play the guitar," he says.

Mali one year on: Through teenagers' eyes

From fleeing violence to escaping forced marriage, Plan-supported teenagers blog about their experiences one year on since fighting broke out in north Mali.

They are among 447,000 people - more than half of them children - who have been forced from their homes and now lay scattered across 6 countries.

Plan is providing thousands of displaced children with education, protection and life-saving support.

Read some of their stories below and support Plan's emergency Mali conflict appeal

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Syria Crisis Appeal

Children and families affected by the conflict in Syria are in dire need of help. There has been a dramatic deterioration in the crisis since the beginning of the year -– and the catastrophe is escalating every day.

There are an estimated three million people displaced in total and the number of refugees crossing the border from Syria into neighbouring countries has doubled -– to one million -– over the past three months.

Right now, hundreds of thousands of children need food, blankets, medicines, safe drinking water and psychological support. Just as importantly for their longer term development they also need the chance to live, play and learn safely -– and to enjoy the semblance of a normal childhood, even in a crisis like this.

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Rebuilding Mali

There are three disasters simultaneously unfolding in Mali.

First, the Sahel region in Africa has been battling a severe food crisis. This food crisis preceded the conflict and has been considered the worst in recent history. In Mali alone, 1.2 million people have been rendered food insecure and malnourished.

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You Never Have Too Little to Share

In a large compound on the outskirts of Ségou, two shadows are discernible in the shade of a mango tree, curled up, almost invisible. Aissata is laying down on the sandy ground with her little boy Bouba by her side.

She tries to find a comfortable position. However, without a mattress, mat, or even a cloth underneath her frail body, it looks impossible to achieve.

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A Once Peaceful Life Now in Danger

“Peaceful, clean, and quiet,” are the words that 12-year-old Mariama uses to describe her village in Ansongo.

Ansongo lies on the Niger River, about half way between Gao and the Niger border in Mali. Several weeks ago, the village was raided by heavily armed bandits and Islamic extremists as part of the on-going conflict in northern Mali that has created chaos and fear in villages large and small.

“We don’t know where they came from, or why, but they brought death and destruction with them,” says Mariama.


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Mali teenager: Every time I hear gunfire I rush to my brother

Hamidou, a teenage boy living in Mopti, Mali, blogs about his experiences in the conflict-hit country and how the fighting is affecting his family.

Today, I caught my brother crying again.

He usually does that when he thinks he is alone in a room. Mamadou is 6 years old and he does not like anyone to see him crying lest he be teased and called a girl. But he can’t help it. He often cries because of the fighting and what he has seen.

It is not easy living like this. I wanted to leave, like my neighbours. All my friends from school have fled with their families. The teachers have left as well. School was so empty last week and the head teacher closed the school for a week.

I envy those who have left. At least, they don’t have to put up with all this.

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Thousands of Children Unreachable by Emergency Aid in Mali

Country Faces Double Crisis as Conflict Continues

Mali is on the verge of a major humanitarian crisis, the global organization Plan International has warned. Tens of thousands of displaced people together with those trapped in the conflict areas are unreachable. In addition, the conflict is preventing farmers from sowing the 2013 crop. As a result of these events, there are fears that up to two million people will be affected by a food crisis this year.

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Mali Conflict: Children in the crossfire

In the middle of an overcrowded compound, nine year old Ahmed, is adjusting to yet another new life. In less than a year, he has had to move twice from his home in Timbuktu, in northern Mali, first to Mopti further South and now to Ségou in central Mali.

As the news of an immediate attack against Mopti spread across Mali, Ahmed and his father knew they had to run for their lives yet again. They boarded the first bus from Mopti and made the six hour journey to Ségou.

“On the way I could hear gunshots. I didn’t see the troops or what was happening but I was so scared. I am glad we made it to a safer place,” says Ahmed.

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