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Country analysis

Mauritania


Mauritania is vulnerable to natural hazards, such as droughts and flooding, which heighten malnutrition rates, disrupt livelihoods, and deteriorate food security levels. Its land is mainly desert, with only about 0.5% being arable. As a result, most people rely on traditional agriculture and livestock farming and heavily depend on the rainy seasons (July–September).

From 2022–2023, the country faced heavy rainfall and flooding, damaging crops and killing livestock. Food is among the highest needs reported. Nearly 700,000 people across the country were projected to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse food insecurity levels between July–August 2023.

Mauritania hosted more than 13,200 refugees from Mali as at October 2023. The number of refugees from Mali has been sharply increasing since March 2022, owing to increased violence and insecurity in the country. Most of the refugees live in Mbera refugee camp (Hodh el Chargui region), and returns to Mali remain unlikely because of continued insecurity. The refugees have been slowly integrating into society, with the majority working in farming, agriculture, or fishing in Lake Mahmouda. Since 2019, these refugees have also experienced consecutive periods of drought characterised by a lack of rain and increasing temperatures that affect their livelihoods. (IFRC 03/07/2023, CARE 10/01/2024, UNHCR 30/11/2023, WB accessed 04/02/2024, UNHCR 27/11/2023)

Mauritania is vulnerable to natural hazards, such as droughts and flooding, which heighten malnutrition rates, disrupt livelihoods, and deteriorate food security levels. Its land is mainly desert, with only about 0.5% being arable. As a result, most people rely on traditional agriculture and livestock farming and heavily depend on the rainy seasons (July–September).

From 2022–2023, the country faced heavy rainfall and flooding, damaging crops and killing livestock. Food is among the highest needs reported. Nearly 700,000 people across the country were projected to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse food insecurity levels between July–August 2023.

Mauritania hosted more than 13,200 refugees from Mali as at October 2023. The number of refugees from Mali has been sharply increasing since March 2022, owing to increased violence and insecurity in the country. Most of the refugees live in Mbera refugee camp (Hodh el Chargui region), and returns to Mali remain unlikely because of continued insecurity. The refugees have been slowly integrating into society, with the majority working in farming, agriculture, or fishing in Lake Mahmouda. Since 2019, these refugees have also experienced consecutive periods of drought characterised by a lack of rain and increasing temperatures that affect their livelihoods. (IFRC 03/07/2023, CARE 10/01/2024, UNHCR 30/11/2023, WB accessed 04/02/2024, UNHCR 27/11/2023)

Latest updates on country situation

12 March 2024

A recent influx of Malian refugees to Hodh Chargui region in eastern Mauritania is contributing to straining local sources and increasing food insecurity levels. The escalating conflict and insecurity in Mali have driven over 14,000 people to seek refuge in January alone. In Hodh Chargui, there were 104,600 registered Malian refugees, with more than 95,800 refugees staying in Mbera camp as at 31 January. One-third of the new arrivals are dependent on charity from the host population to cover needs such as food and water, while others have brought their livestock with them and depend on income from daily work. Food needs across the region are likely to increase because of the pressure on local sources following the arrival of refugees. Below-average rainfall in 2023 has also reduced the availability of food and contributed to rising prices in markets.
(FEWS NET 29/02/2024, UNHCR 27/02/2024)

current crises
in Mauritania


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

MRT002 - Malian refugees

Last updated 29/02/2024


Drivers

Displacement

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

1.7 Low

Access constraints

1.0

MRT003 - Food security

Last updated 29/02/2024


Drivers

Drought
Floods

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.7 Medium

Access constraints

1.0