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WFP Mauritania Country Brief, May 2017

Attachments

Highlights

  • Despite contributions received so far, funding gap of USD 14.1 million continue to hamper WFP’s assistance to vulnerable Mauritanian households, and Malian refugees. Without extra funds, UNHAS operations – from which delivery of critical assistance depends on – will be suspended from August.
  • Approximately 70,000 affected people (out of the 100,000 meant to receive assistance) will not be reached with much needed food and cash assistance during the peak of the lean season (June-September) due to lack of sufficient funds.
  • Where possible, WFP’s peak of the lean season response will seek synergies with the government’s social protection programme Teikavul, to identify the most vulnerable households included in Mauritania’s Social Registry database.

Operational Updates

Relief and Recovery Operation – Refugee Component

In May, WFP reached 50,460 refugees with a reduced monthly cash ration of 2,000 Mauritanian Ouguiya (USD 7), and a full monthly ration of 7.5 kg rice and 125 g oil per person.

Malnutrition treatment activities for pregnant and nursing women and children aged 6-59 months continued in May for some 733 people in need of assistance, of which 564 were children. School meals were regularly distributed to 4,500 children in the six primary schools of the camp. WFP also provided school meals for 8,800 Mauritanian children attending 49 schools in Mbera village.

Relief and Recovery Operation – Local Vulnerable Population Component

In May, WFP worked with the local population and partners in Guidimakha and Hodh Ech-Charghi to roll-out activities for the rehabilitation and creation of assets for some 7,700 vulnerable people. Food assistance for assets (FFA)’s key focus is recovering and/or creating assets such as degraded soil restoration works, dykes and vegetable gardens, that positively impact food security for people living in the most food-insecure regions.

In May, WFP started distributing 130 mt of dates donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Gorgol, Assaba, Tagant and Hodh El Gharbi to households whose children receive malnutrition treatment assistance, and who are not being assisted with general food distributions (GFD) by WFP due to funding shortfalls. Beneficiaries have expressed their gratitude for a much appreciated nutritious and traditional snack for the month of Ramadan.

Country Programme – School Meals

In May, WFP completed the last school meals distribution cycle during the last month of the 2016/17 school year. Two meals were distributed to 16,000 schoolchildren attending 100 elementary schools in the region of Hodh Ech-Charghi. The meals included a warm snack composed of highly nutritious supplements and a hot porridge for lunch made with rice, pulses and vegetable oil.

During the month of May, six training sessions were carried out to strengthen the capacities of WFP partners involved in the management of school canteens financed by Japanese private contribution in Hodh Ech-Charghi. Some 205 people, including 100 school principals, 100 representatives of the parent-associations and five departmental education inspectors increased their technical competencies and knowledge in the objectives of school meals, stock management, monitoring and reporting, and on roles and responsibilities of the members of the canteen committees.

In May, the Government funded 25 feeding days for 60,362 students in eight regions of which six targeted by WFP intervention.

Special Operation – UNHAS

In May, UNHAS transported 297 passengers and 1.66 mt of light cargo (IT equipment and medical supplies) in 43 rotations between Nouakchott and other locations. UNHAS successfully performed a test flight to Selibaby on 27 May 2017 with return on the same day. Once a confirmation from the national authorities is received, regular flights to this location will be scheduled. UNHAS also facilitated a joint WFP-King Salman Relief Centre for Humanitarian Aid mission to Kaedi, Gorgol in occasion of the dates distribution.