Northern Mali violence takes rising civilian toll, Red Cross warns

The International Committee of the Red Cross is raising the alarm about an increase in violence and serious injuries in northern Mali.

Its medical team at the Gao regional hospital says it has seen an influx of wounded militants and civilians since late January.

Red Crossmedical teams reporthaving treated 21 people who were involved in recent fighting in the strategically significant town of Tabankort, and 18 people, likely civilians, who took part in protests against a proposed security buffer zone.

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Aly Ouattara, head of the Red Cross at theGao hospital, says most of the patients were admitted with gunshot wounds requiring surgery. "Many have multiple fractures and other severe wounds."

The Red Cross says the increase in wounded is a signal that the situation in northern Mali remains volatile.In an interview with CBC News from his Geneva office, Red CrossspokesmanJean-Yves Clmenzo said, "We tend to think things are over in Mali, but there is still fighting, still violence and still the need to protect the population."

Power struggle in northern Mali

There has been a complicated power struggle for northernMali since early 2012.

That's when the Mali government lost control of the area in apartially successful military coup.ButFrenchtroops and African Union soldiers intervened andbrought about a fragile truce in 2013.

It was short-lived, though, and the area remains prone to outbreaks of violence betweengovernment troops and a complicated mix ofTuareg and Arab separatists and al-Qaeda-supported Islamists, all vying for control of the north.

In mid-January, the UnitedNationsPeacekeeping Mission in Malisays itwas forced to retaliate after being attacked withrocks and Molotov cocktails during protests in Gao.At least threepeople were killed whenpeacekeepers responded by opening fire.The United Nations is conducting an inquiry intothat deadly clash.

We've received reports that entire families have been trapped by the fighting.Christophe Luedi, International Red Cross

The Red Crossis particularly concerned about innocent citizens being caught in the middle of all it all, particularly inTabankort."We've received reports that entire families have been trapped by the fighting," saidChristopheLuedi, head of the Red Crossin Mali. "We are quite concerned about them and doing everything we can to come to their aid."

Getting them help is hampered by fighting, "We are trying our best, but its not easy,"Clmenzo said. "You can easily get hit with bullets yourself when you have that kind of fighting in the area.So, we are really trying to get access, but we also have to take into account the volatile situation."

The Red Cross is reinforcing its team in thearea.

"We're planning to bolsterthe ability of our staff to take rapidaction,"Luedisaid.It is also trying to talk to all the partiesinvolved to ensure those affected byfighting can get help and urging themtocomply with international humanitarian laws that require the protection of civilians andnon-combatants.