The town of Diabaly bears the scars of war, after Islamist rebels battled for its control against French and Malian troops.<br/> <br />On Monday (January 21) the area was secured as heavily armed rebels were pushed out of the town.<br/> <br />Residents here say around 200 fighters held them captive for several days.<br/> <br />Aid agencies say Mali's humanitarian situation is being evaluated, with over a thousand people already identified as needing help.<br/> <br />The U.N. says up to 700,000 people could be uprooted in the violence, with many fleeing into neighbouring countries.<br/> <br />In the capital, some of the region's displaced people are already looking forward to returning home.<br/> <br />One woman fled her home in Timbuktu when Islamist fighters arrived.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: FATOUMATA MAIGA, DISPLACED WOMAN FROM TIMBUKTU, SAYING (French):<br/> <br />"As soon as peace returns, when the authorities return, I am going to go back because I left everything. I left with one outfit, which I wore, and my five children. We walked 23 kilometres (14 miles)."<br/> <br />With international support, France aims to dislodge the Islamists from northern Mali and prevent it being used as a base to attack the West.
