A/HRC/34/72 E. Prisons 70. The Independent Expert notes that in March 2016, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights set up a working group to investigate conditions of detention. In May, poor conditions in prisons were exacerbated by hot weather, resulting in the death of five inmates of the central prison in Bamako. The Ministry reacted promptly and organized special hearings to reduce prison overcrowding. 71. The Independent Expert is particularly concerned by the growing number of detainees being held incommunicado by the Malian State security services and the international forces. At the end of September, there were 104 such detainees. The Independent Expert is very concerned by the fact that the Human Rights and Protection Division continues to be refused access to the premises of these two entities — the Barkhane forces and the intelligence services — despite his repeated calls, in previous reports, for such access to be granted. 72. The Independent Expert nevertheless welcomes the fact that, in September 2016, the Human Rights and Protection Division was granted access for the first time to the military detention facilities of the Malian defence and security forces in Gao. 73. The Independent Expert noted that the CSMAK coordinator in Kidal had given assurances that measures had been taken to ensure access to medical services for persons detained in local CSMAK facilities. Access to health care and adequate cell ventilation are issues that have been raised on several occasions by the Human Rights and Protection Division. F. Refugees and internally displaced persons 74. The Independent Expert has been informed that there are still more than 135,000 Malians in refugee camps and that 36,700 persons are internally displaced. He has received reports that flows of refugees from Mali have continued, with the arrival of almost 2,000 refugees in Mbera, Mauritania, since mid-September. The refugees come from communes in Timbuktu (Goundam and Niafounké) and Ségou (Niono). They attribute their flight to a lack of security in their region of origin, arising from violent crime and terrorist activities. Internally displaced persons who arrived between 24 and 28 October in the nomadic villages of the commune of Tilemsi, in the region of Gao, feared the joint military operations led by the Barkhane forces and the Malian army near the Mauritanian border. 75. The Independent Expert notes that the families who left the village of Kareri after the Malemana incident in April and May and sought refuge in the region of Ségou are in need of humanitarian assistance. Months after their displacement, the families had still not received any support from national institutions or the humanitarian community. 76. The Independent Expert further notes that migrants have regularly been targeted and attacked while travelling through Mali. On 21 October, in the region of Gao, a truck carrying 70 migrants was attacked by unidentified armed persons driving a pickup truck on the road between Gao and Kidal, beyond Tabankort. The Independent Expert understands that it is not clear which armed groups control the area, which makes it difficult to identify the perpetrators of these acts. However, members of the Ganda Izo militia arrested the truck driver and took him to the gendarmerie in Gao, where an inquiry was opened. Even during the Independent Expert’s visit to Mali, a truck carrying some 20 migrants was reportedly attacked on the road between Gao and Kidal on 11 November. G. Economic, social and cultural rights 77. The Independent Expert notes that poverty and food insecurity rates are extremely high, especially in rural areas, but also in the south and in Bamako. He further notes that the number of persons affected by food insecurity rose steadily during the period under consideration. In September, a national review of food security and nutrition found that an 14 GE.17-02058