CERF gives $5.5 million in response to Malian refugees in Mauritania

16 April 2012: Thousands of people have fled northern Mali due to fighting between the army and Malian Tuareg rebels of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad. Some 33,098 Malians took refuge in the town of Fassala, Mauritania, between January and February 2012. The majority (54 per cent) of these people are women and girls. UN and Government assessments identified the immediate need to provide shelter, food, non-food items, clean water, sanitation and protection for refugees. Many pastoralists have crossed the border with their livestock, thus exerting pressure on exiting land and water resources. Due to the refugee influx, local government capacity has proved insufficient to respond to the new population and cover the needs of refugees and host communities.

In response, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) provided US$5,490,696 to eight UN agencies in Mauritania to respond to the priority needs of refugees and host communities.

The World Food Programme (WFP) received $2.6 million to provide emergency food to more than 30,000 refugees, and logistical support for relief efforts. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) received $545,018 to fund three projects to provide health, nutrition, psychosocial support and child protection to 30,000 children. CERF also gave $192,611 to the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide health and nutrition assistance for severely malnourished children.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) received $1,640,000 to manage refugee camps, provide shelter, distribute ration cards and ensure that refugees reside in sanitary and hygienic conditions. More than $121,000 was given to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to provide livelihood support to 30,000 refugees.

To support sexual and reproductive health services for refugees and host communities, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) received $228,771 to support the health needs of 14,000 women. UNAIDS (the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) received a $38,078 grant to support HIV prevention efforts in intervention areas. The UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOCHR) received $85,000 to prevent, monitor, document and report on violations of civil and political rights.

For more information about CERF, visit:www.unocha.org/cerf