Powerful photo exhibition in Brussels highlights the humanitarian crisis in Mali

From January 23 to February 12, the Halles Saint-Géry in Brussels will host a poignant photographic exhibition focused on the ongoing challenges in Mali. Titled “In Their Eyes,” the event is a collaborative effort by seven international NGOs designed to raise awareness about a crisis currently impacting more than 6.4 million people.

A visual narrative of the Malian reality

The collection features approximately thirty images captured by Malian photographer Tiécoura N’Daou. These photographs were taken in September 2025 within the Gao and Mopti regions, where international aid organizations operate with backing from the European Union. The organizers state that the project seeks to document the situation “through the eyes of those who live it every day,” sharing personal stories of loss, displacement, and the vital efforts of humanitarian workers on the ground.

A coalition of humanitarian actors

The initiative is a joint venture involving 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.

Alarming figures from the ground

The participating NGOs describe the humanitarian landscape in Mali as deeply concerning. Current data reveals that over 400,000 individuals have been internally displaced, with women and children making up the vast majority of this group. Furthermore, 1.5 million people are grappling with a severe food crisis, and an equal number of children under the age of five are suffering from acute malnutrition. In 2024 alone, the country saw more than 35,000 recorded instances of human rights violations.