Mauritania has faced a series of food crises, which have had a deep impact on the nutritional situation of children. Almost 13 per cent of children under five years of age suffered from acute malnutrition, while more than one third were chronically malnourished. 24,000 Mauritanian refugees living in more than 250 locations in Senegal wish to return to some 50 communities in four regions of Mauritania.

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CERF allocates US$ 850,000 to provide safe repatriation of Mauritanian refugees from Senegal

The official call in late June for Mauritanian refugees to return to their country after 18 years in exile constitutes a major political challenge for the newly elected President. Of the 24,000 refugees that have expressed a desire to go back, 7,000 are expected in 2007 and the rest will return in 2008. The returnees are expected to return to some 50 communities in four regions of Mauritania, along the border with Senegal, where most of them have been staying in the past. In order to safely repatriate the refugees, the Government of Mauritania has appealed for assistance.

Specifically, deforestation, desertification, and the lack of water resources pose serious concerns for the Government, as these challenges complicate the repatriation process. Additionally, food insecurity is a pressing problem. Between December 2005 and July 2007, the number of vulnerable people in rural areas has risen from 350,000 to 425,000. The populations at risk are concentrated in southern regions, including the resettlement areas of the returnees. Since limited social services and infrastructures are available, food insecurity and the lack of water are additional challenges for repatriation.

CERF funds aim to protect the returnees and prevent a possible humanitarian crisis in villages whose absorption capacity is almost non-existent. 

A Mauritanian mother and her children outside their makeshift shelter in Senegal [Photo:  UNHCR]

A grant will allow the World Food Programme (WFP) to continue to preserve food security of the newly returned refugees by providing them with a three-month food ration upon their arrival and implementing food-for-work programmes for both host communities and returnees to impoverished regions. To that end, WFP will purchase and distribute 378 metric tones of alimentary products, including rice, lentils, vegetable oil, corn-soya blend, sugar and salt. Seven thousand refugees will benefit from improved nutrition and food security.

According to a survey conducted in 2007 by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 24,000 Mauritanian refugees staying in Senegal asked to return to their home country after 18 years in exile. UNHCR is using use a grant to repatriate refugees in safety and dignity.  is also providing transportation from crossing points to villages of origin by trucks and boats and will set up transit centers where refugees will receive hot meals, medical and social care. Additionally, UNHCR will supply basic non-food items, such as sanitary kits, mosquito nets, kettles and pots.

Added funding was gained by UNHCR to further assist Mauritanian refugees. An additional CERF allocation is enabling UNHCR to repatriate up to 7,000 refugees in safety and dignity. Programme activities include “go and see” visits so that the potential returnees can inform themselves about the situation in Mauritania. The refugees are receiving vaccination and a medical screening prior to their repatriation and hot meals and drinking water before the convoy leaves.

[Last Update: 18 January 2008]

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CERF allocates US$ 850,000 to assist Mauritanians after drought and flooding

1 August 2007: Most of the areas where farmers are living in Mauritania suffered from a lack of rainfall in 2007, with some regions losing as much as 80 percent of their pasture. Other areas in the east and southeast had to deal with floodings, heavily damaging crops and livestock. Added on top of the structural problems of agricultural production, including lack of seeds and presence of vermin, these climactic phenomena aggravated food insecurity.

Mauritanian children eating [Photo: UN/Mauritania]

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is using a CERF grant to help relaunch the livelihood activities of 3,500 vulnerable farming households, whose sole income relies on agricultural produce. FAO is making available 50 spaces, representing each 0.25 hectare, for market gardening, while supplying seeds, fertilizer, horticultural tools and fence. Given the importance of stock-breeding in Mauritania, another CERF allocation is enabling FAO to provide drugs and other veterinary items, vitamins and vaccines to 10,000 affected families.

With a CERF allocation the World Food Programme (WFP) is maintaining already existing emergency supplementary feeding centres in seven southern regions where food insecurity and malnutrition increased in the aftermath of severe flooding. The UN agency is purchasing 373 metric tonnes of food products, including soft wheat, vegetable oil, corn-soya blend and lentils, to support over 21,000 children under the age of 5 years, more than 13,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women and over 1,000 nutrition auxiliaries.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is utilizing CERF funds to provide care and support for children suffering from acute malnutrition in Mauritania. It is ensuring the uninterrupted supply of therapeutic foods, micronutrient supplements, and essential drugs to help manage acute malnutrition. Minor rehabilitation of damaged therapeutic feeding centres and training of health agents are also being carried out by UNICEF. Other activities include nutrition data collection and reporting, and capacity building of national health supervisory offices.

 The CERF has allocated funds to Mauritania as part of the second underfunded allocation in 2007.

[Last Update: 18 February 2008]

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CERF in Mauritania 2008

CERF in Mauritania 2006