NEW : Nearly half a billion dollars pledged at donors ' conference . Comment: But now , as French and Malian forces take back ground from militants , the U.N. refugee agency is preparing for the `` possible spontaneous return of thousands of conflict-displaced people . '' U.N. gears up for the return of displaced people ; UK outlines military support . Flushing the Islamists out of Timbuktu is a big symbolic gain .
NEW : Nearly half a billion dollars pledged at donors ' conference . Comment: U.N. gears up for the return of displaced people ; UK outlines military support . Flushing the Islamists out of Timbuktu is a big symbolic gain .