The association Kal Akal has sounded the alarm over a deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Kidal, Tinzaouaten and Talhandak areas of northern Mali, following airstrikes it says endangered populated areas and forced families — among them women and children — to flee toward the Algerian border in search of safety.

In an urgent statement issued Monday from the city of Kidal, the association said information and images it had received pointed to at least one civilian killed and another wounded, in addition to homes and civilian sites being struck.

The toll could not be independently verified, nor could the party responsible for the strikes be confirmed. Neither Malian nor Algerian authorities have so far issued any official comment on the statement’s claims.

Families stranded at the border

According to Kal Akal, families were forced to leave their areas to escape the strikes, only to find themselves stranded near the Algerian border, amid great difficulty reaching a safe area.

The association said the images and information it had received revealed an extremely dire humanitarian situation, particularly for children, women, the elderly and the wounded.

It noted that one of the sites struck lies only about 300 meters from a populated area on the Algerian side of the border, arguing that the proximity of military operations to population centers compounds the dangers facing civilians on both sides of the border zone.

Urgent appeal to Algeria

The association issued a formal, urgent appeal to the Algerian authorities to act and not leave fleeing families stranded between the strikes and the border.

It said security considerations should not override humanitarian imperatives, calling on Algeria to consider measures allowing threatened individuals to reach effective protection, especially children, women, the elderly and the wounded.

The statement stressed that “the border must not become a trap for civilians fleeing hostilities,” recalling the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where their lives or safety may face serious danger.

Call to stop endangering civilians

Kal Akal also called on Malian authorities and all forces involved in military operations to comply with international humanitarian law, respect the principle of distinction between military and civilian targets, and take all necessary precautions to prevent further casualties.

The association urged the United Nations, the UN refugee agency, the International Committee of the Red Cross and humanitarian organizations to urgently verify the reported facts and act to protect the population and provide assistance to displaced families.

It closed its statement by stressing that the situation in Tinzaouaten demands an immediate response, warning against leaving civilians fleeing the bombardment without shelter, and insisting that “humanity must not stop at borders.”