Country Information
Founded: 11th century
Independence: 1960
Land Area: 1,240,000 Square Kilometers (almost twice the size of Texas)
Climate: subtropical to arid
Agricultural Land Usability: 4%
Natural Hazards: recurring droughts and occasional flooding along the Niger
Environmental issues: soil erosion, inadequate supply of usable water, desertification
The People
Population: 11,716,829
Infant Mortality Rate: 108 deaths / 1000 births
Life Expectancy: 49 years
Major Diseases: very high risk bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, Typhoid fever, malaria, schistosomiasis, meningococcal meningitis
Religions: 90% Muslim, 9% Tribal religions, 1% Christian
Literacy Rate: 47% (only 39% of women)
Unemployment rate: 15%
Population below the UN-established Poverty Line: 64%
Special Conditions
No quantifiable special conditions exist.
Identifying the Need
The low life expectancy in Mali is due to the high degree of risk to catching the variety of deadly diseases found throughout the country. There are cures and treatments for these illnesses readily available to the industrialized world. The establishment of a clinic would greatly help these people to overcome and possibly eradicate the diseases which plague their lives.
Education is a major concern; establishing or supporting schools and vocational training centers is a must.
Food distribution, as with most African nations, is a welcome source of aid for people who cannot produce enough crops and goods or cannot afford the low supply which is generated.
How The Zakat Foundation Has Responded
Udhiya / Qurbani Distribution
In 2006 we expanded the distribution of meats on the Eid al-Adha to cover Mali. The slow increase of poverty and hunger has greatly increased over the last year, so these meats were more than welcomed by people who may not have even seen meat on their dinner plates since the last Eid.
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