Morocco dispatches humanitarian aid to Malian refugees in Niger

Upon the orders of King Mohammed VI, the government of Morocco decided to dispatch 14 tons of foodstuffs to assist Niger in dealing with the flow of Malian refugees and meeting their most pressing basic needs, a statement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Sunday. This initiative is in line with Morocco's solidarity-based policy towards African peoples and countries, it added. According to the United Nations, more than 200,000 people have fled their homes in Mali since January. Amnesty International warned that north Mali was on the brink of a "major humanitarian disaster" while Oxfam and World Vision said crippling sanctions against the junta could have devastating consequences. "All the food and medicine stored by major aid agencies has been looted and most of the aid workers have fled," said Gaetan Mootoo, Amnesty International's researcher on West Africa. "The population is at imminent risk of severe food and medical shortages that could lead to many casualties especially among women and children who are less able to fend for themselves." Residents in rebel-held towns have reported systematic looting, rapes and the implementation of sharia law in places.