From 23 January to 12 February, the Halles Saint-Géry in Bruxelles will serve as the venue for a poignant photographic journey into the heart of the Mali humanitarian emergency. The exhibition, titled “In Their Eyes,” is designed to raise awareness about a situation that currently impacts more than 6.4 million individuals across the country.
A collaborative effort to highlight the crisis
This initiative is a joint production by several major organisations, including Médecins du Monde, Action contre la Faim, the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Danish Refugee Council, International Medical Corps, the International Rescue Committee, and Première Urgence Internationale. The project is carried out with the vital support of the European Union.
The collection features approximately thirty images captured by Malian photographer Tiécoura N’Daou. Taken in September 2025 within the Gao and Mopti regions, these photographs document areas where these NGOs operate European Union-funded projects. The organisers stated that the primary goal is to portray the crisis through the perspectives of those enduring it daily, highlighting the resilience of displaced populations and the tireless efforts of relief workers.
Alarming statistics from the ground
Humanitarian groups describe the current state of affairs in Mali as deeply concerning. Internal displacement has forced over 400,000 people from their homes, with women and children making up the vast majority. Furthermore, 1.5 million people are grappling with severe food insecurity, while an equal number of children under the age of five are suffering from acute malnutrition. Data from 2024 also reveals a staggering count of more than 35,000 human rights abuses recorded within the nation.
