« When we arrived in Mopti, we were housed in a school. We received generous supplies — rice, tea, sugar, oil, powdered milk, » shares a displaced resident of Kouakourou with gratitude. This aid comes from an anonymous donor, and the local council manages the distributions. »

Life in a school building is far from ideal, he admits. Some sleep outside in the courtyard. During rainstorms, everyone crowds into classrooms. It’s unbearable. While food isn’t scarce, this isn’t living. Over 400 of us are crammed into the school. »

Kouakourou village now stands empty. After receiving an ultimatum from JNIM jihadists, residents had no choice but to flee. « Being forced to abandon our homes, to leave everything behind — it’s heartbreaking, » another displaced villager confides. All we want is to return home. Some left with only the clothes on their backs. The terrorists even took our phones. Worse, this tragedy struck as we were preparing for the farming season. We’ll have to forgo this year’s harvest — a devastating loss. »