When violence escalated in her village in Mali, Fatimata* had no choice but to flee to protect her four children. In just a few hours, the family left behind their home, their belongings, and the life they had known.
“My children now have an identity”: a mother’s story from Timbuktu
Arriving in Timbuktu as displaced people, Fatimata and her children faced emotional distress and deep uncertainty. Her children struggled to adapt to the new environment and were deeply affected by the sudden move.
In Timbuktu, another challenge soon became clear: none of the family had official identity documents. Without proof of identity, everyday life became difficult. Moving around was risky, and passing through checkpoints was a constant source of stress.
“Before receiving assistance from NRC, my children and I had no documents to prove our identity. At checkpoints, we were unable to show who we were,” Fatimata explains.
Since 2014, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been supporting access to legal identity in Mali, particularly birth registration. Working in collaboration with the Direction Nationale de l’État Civil (the National Directorate of Civil Status), local authorities and tribunals, NRC’s legal assistance teams help families navigate the often complex legal procedures required to obtain civil documentation.
For many displaced families like Fatimata’s, this includes late birth registration, which requires judicial procedures before a certificate can be issued.
In 2025 alone, NRC provided legal assistance – including court representation – to more than 15,000 people in Mali seeking birth registration and national identity documents.
With NRC’s support, three of Fatimata’s four children – including the youngest, Mariam* – were able to obtain birth certificates, giving them legally recognised identities for the first time.
The support did not stop there. The children began attending classes at NRC’s community learning centres and are now registered to attend the local school. The family also received cash assistance and shelter support to help them rebuild their lives in displacement.
For Fatimata, the identity documents represent far more than paperwork. “NRC’s support has given us hope. My children now have an identity and a future,” she says.
Today, her greatest wish is simple: that her children can continue their studies and build a better future – even though they are far away from the home they once knew.
* The names of the participants have been changed.
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