Nouakchott — Mauritanian security authorities and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) have finalised plans to move the Malian nationals out of refugee camps near Fassala, according to Al-Akhbar.

"The returnees, some 100 refugees, represent the first batch of people to return to Mali since the start of military operations that France and African forces launched against the terrorist groups that were controlling northern Mali," the Mauritanian news agency reported on July 1st.

This is the first batch of refugees to return home since the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and the Malian government signed an agreement some weeks ago in Ouagadougou.

Mauritania received some 100,000 Malians, who fled their homeland after al-Qaeda affiliated terrorists and armed Islamists moved in.

"The expected expulsion of al-Qaeda and affiliated terrorist groups, and the signing of an agreement between the Malian government and the MNLA, should help stabilise the Sahel and alleviate the local populations' suffering," Malian journalist Omar Mountaga said.

Refugees, however, are nervous about what lies ahead.

"About 30 families have returned to the suburbs of Timbuktu and Goundam," said Mohamed Ali Ag al-Mubarak, a spokesperson for the refugees in Bassiknou. "We understand the reasons for their return, given the harsh circumstances and lack of basic services at the refugee camps."

"If the Malian government pays any attention to them, this might only be represented in providing some needs for a very short period of time, and after that, they might be left alone," he told Magharebia.

MNLA media advisor Al-Mubarak Ag Mohamed shared his pessimism.

Returning refugees "hope that the new UN peacekeeping troops (MINUSMA) would be capable of protecting them against ethnic cleansing", he said. "However, I don't expect any real stability for the returnees for the time being."

"The new peacekeeping troops that are expected to protect Arab and Touareg populations against purges won't be able to do that because of the large number of people concerned," journalist Ahmed said.

On Thursday the United Nations urged international donors to provide more than $1 billion in aid to provide for the 11 million people facing the risk of hunger throughout the Sahel, warning that the crisis in Syria is diverting donors' attention off the humanitarian situation there.