Caritas Internationalis said rebels of the Taureg ethnic group, fighting for an independent state, had seized three regional capitals in as many days. The main rebel group is the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). They are operating alongside the Islamist group Ansar Edine, who, Caritas said, have links to al-Qaida's North African branch.
Despite the conflict in the north and a military coup March 22 that ousted democratically-elected President Amadou Toumani Toure, Caritas Mali said it continues to provide desperately needed food aid to the rest of the country.
The capital of Mali is calm, said Theodore Togo, secretary-general of Caritas Mali. "We are monitoring the situation in the north."
"Apart from Gao and Mopti, which have temporally suspended operations, our program continues assisting people affected by the food crisis," he said. "If the rebels limit their activities to the North, then the majority of our aid programs will be able to continue as planned."
Caritas Mali is distributing corn, millet, rice and sorghum, as well as seeds to more than 100,000 people affected by a growing food crisis, Caritas Internationalis said.
In addition, the organization said, Caritas members in Niger are providing food aid to refugees who have fled the conflict in northern Mali.