CERF allocates $ 1.1 million to provide emergency assistance to the food price crisis in Mauritania
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Mauritanian refugee children on their way home from Senegal[Photo: UNHCR]
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9 July 2008: Mauritania’s food and nutritional insecurity is structural in origin, but has been exacerbated by short-term factors such as the inflation in staple food prices. Since Mauritania needs to import 70 percent of its food requirements, the country is extremely exposed to soaring cereal prices on the international markets.
The results of a recent nutritional survey indicate that the prevalence of acute malnutrition increased from eight percent during the post harvest of 2006/2007 to twelve percent during 2007/2008, reflecting the deteriorating food situation characterised by both a lack of availability and poor accessibility, as well as the weak healthcare structures in place to treat severe malnutrition.
Using CERF funds, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is addressing malnutrition by ensuring an uninterrupted pipeline of therapeutic foods, micronutrient supplements, essential drugs and other supplies. In partnership with WHO and WFP, it is also building the capacity of national counterparts in the supervision of therapeutic feeding.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is using CERF funds to provide health assistance to malnourished children in Mauritania. WHO is acquiring essential medicines and supplies for recuperation centres while supporting the management of the centres.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is providing emergency assistance to vulnerable farmers and breeders affected by drought and soaring food prices. FAO is acquiring horticultural seeds and materials, tools, and veterinary inputs and is distributing the inputs and tools to 5,000 farmer households and 10,000 breeder households.
[Last Update: 26 August 2008]