More than 74,000 kids trapped in Timbuktu – NGO

More than 136,000 people are stuck in the old city of Timbuktu in Mali, including about 74,000 children, according to Save the Children.

The NGO said on Monday that people trapped in the city are running out of food and medicine because armed groups are not letting these essential items in.

The NGO said that because the official aid routes are blocked, there are fewer supplies and they are worried that they may have to stop helping people in the city if the crisis isn’t solved soon.

The NGO also mentioned that they have heard about children getting hurt or killed by bombs, and some are also joining armed groups.

Timbuktu is a very important place that is protected by Unesco. It has been attacked by a group of people who are linked to al-Qaeda since August.

The jihadists stopped trucks from other areas from going into Timbuktu. This has led to not enough food, fuel, and other things in the city, and the prices are very high.

Terrorist attacks in the city have made over 33,000 people run away, the UN says.