36 killed in Mali stampede

By MARTIN VOGLThe Associated Press Monday, February 21, 2011; 10:53 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/21/AR2011022104121.html
BAMAKO, Mali -- At least 36 people were killed in a stampede Monday when a crowd surged against a metal barrier after a Muslim ceremony, Mali's minister of interior security and civil protection said.

Sadio Gassame said the stampede at Bamako's Modibo Keita Stadium took place during a ceremony marking the Muslim holy period of Maouloud. The incident occurred as tens of thousands of people were attempting to leave through a metallic enclosure.

Anguished families gathered outside the capital's Gabriel Toure Hospital where the staff was preparing to post a list of the dead. At least 64 others were wounded.

Sidiki Coulibaly was visibly shaken as he waited for the dreaded news. "I've already had it confirmed that my aunt died. We are now trying to find out what happened to her daughter. She's just 10 years old. They go to this event together every year," he said.

At the place where people had been crushed, security personnel were collecting piles of shoes to put into a waiting van. A young girl sat on a bucket at the edge of the scene, crying. She had lost both parents and didn't know her way home.

February News

Hey all, sorry this blog is so late in coming. These last few months have been a bit busy. I have been helping to prepare for the arrival of a new group of trainees and now that they have arrived, I have been involved in their training. They seem to be a great group of new soon-to-be volunteers; it'll be exciting to see how the rest of their training goes and to see them swear in this April.

Last night, around 1am, I was lucky enough to get some rain. A very big surprise to me, and then a big surprise to the guard at the house here in San when I proceeded to get up and stand in the rain. We're coming into hot season right now and I definitely wasn't expecting any rain for a while, but perhaps this is the first of the Mango rains. Either way, I am not complaining.

One more big piece of news; my project to build a maternity and women's center was fully funded. A huge thank you to all that helped with this project! It is because of donations and support from you all that this dream is becoming a reality. We have started the meetings to delegate tasks and as I write this, our new bricks are baking in the sun. I'll try to keep you all updated on progress as the project picks up.