Mayor of the twin city of Timbuktu reports to the City Council - Chemnitz supports reconstruction with 10,000 euros from donations - Public discussion round on Thursday in the town hall
The mayor of Mali's twin city Timbuktu, Hallé Ousmane, described the difficult situation in his city after almost a year of occupation by rebels in the city council today. In a moving speech, the mayor spoke of the suffering of the population during this time; of attacks, arrests and torture; of refugees, closed schools and a completely destroyed infrastructure. At the same time, he spoke of the efforts to rebuild public life step by step.
Hallé Ousmane expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to come to Chemnitz and for the willingness to help that he has experienced here. Mayor Barbara Ludwig assured him of further support. The 10,000 euros that have so far been donated to the city's account by citizens are urgently needed to rebuild the infrastructure and schools.
"We want to provide support exactly where help is needed. That's why we invited Hallé Ousmane directly as soon as the situation in Timbuktu allowed us to find out what was needed," said Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig. "With the donations, for which I would like to thank the people of Chemnitz very much, we are offering simple help for self-help." She assured her Malian counterpart of further, rapid and direct support.
Together with the association Städtepartnerschaft Chemnitz-Timbuktu e.V., urgently needed medicines have already been delivered to Timbuktu in the middle of the crisis; the city's hospital has been completely destroyed by the rebels. The 10,000 euros now going to Timbuktu from donations received will be used, among other things, for writing and learning materials for the school there.
Hallé Ousmane expressed his thanks for the moral and financial support that Timbuktu is receiving through his visit to the twin city. "I find the people of Chemnitz to be very hospitable and open-minded. For us in Timbuktu, the aid provided is very important so that we can once again provide for ourselves and help." Infrastructure, agriculture and school operations need to get back on track quickly. In this context, the energy company Elicon and the mayor also pledged their support in training employees from Mali so that the solar system donated in 2007 can be maintained and operated locally. The system is in use at the infirmary in Kabara / Timbuktu.
Appeal for donations
Last year, Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig appealed for donations to help 15 million African people who were threatened by famine following an extreme drought. Mali and Chemnitz's twin city Timbuktu were also affected. Now that the situation has deteriorated further as a result of political events, Chemnitz is continuing to call for donations for its African twin city (see also PM 57 from 13 February 2013):
Donations for Timbuktu can be paid into the City of Chemnitz's donation account: account no.: 350 100 9282, sort code: 870 50 000 - reason for payment: 1111100.50111000 Timbuktu. Timbuktu and Chemnitz, then Karl-Marx-Stadt, have been twinned since 1968.
Public discussion round on Thursday
Mayor Hallé Ousmane will report on the situation in his city in a public discussion round on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the city council chamber of the town hall.