Highlights
In February 2016, UNHCR received a generous contribution of 3 million USD from the Government of Japan to assist more than 50,000 displaced Malians who found refuge in Mauritania as well as the Mauritanian host population around Mbera camp. Thanks to this contribution, 16% of UNHCR’s financial needs in Mauritania is covered. Additional support is urgently needed in 2016 in order to allow UNHCR and its partners to continue cover refugees’ essential needs and to strengthen its self-reliance programmes for refugees.
Funding shortfalls have consistently stretched UNHCR and WFP’s capacity to maintain vital assistance in quantitative terms during each general food distribution in Mbera camp. Last month, no pulses were distributed due to financial constraints. To prevent dire consequences on the overall nutritional and health status of the camp’s population and to raise awareness on this issue, a joint UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP Press release was launched in February.
In February, UNHCR held a participatory needs assessment session in Mbera camp and in Nouakchott with some 800 refugees who discussed their needs and proposed solutions to shape UNHCR’s 2016-2017 humanitarian response strategy.
In February, UNHCR together with UNICEF, WFP and the Ministry of Health conducted a SMART-SENS Evaluation in Mbera camp to monitor the nutrition situation with a particular focus on children. The evaluation report is under finalization.
Following the submission by UNHCR of more than 50 individuals, among the most vulnerable, for resettlement in the past months, 32 urban refugees (from Senegal, Central African Republic, Congo, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Mali) were accepted for resettlement to the United States of America.