Preliminary Appeal Target: US$ 1,730,514
Less: Pledges/Contribution: US$ 696,800
Balance Requested: US$ 1,033,714

Geneva, 19th March 2013

Dear Colleagues,

The escalating conflict in Mali between French-backed government forces and Tuareg and Islamist rebels is creating a new wave of civilian displacement that is straining already scarce resources and deepening the humanitarian crisis in Mali and neighbouring countries, says ACT Alliance General Secretary John Nduna.

1. Brief description of the emergency and impact

Appeal Target: US$ 2,449,224
Balance Requested: US$ 193,426

Mauritania and the neighbouring countries (mainly Mali and Senegal) have been affected by the ongoing Sahel food crisis characterised by food insecurity and malnutrition due to drought and other underlying factors in the region. It has been projected that 800,000 people in Mauritania, will need humanitarian assistance in 2012.

In addition to the drought situation, the ongoing armed conflict in Northern Mali has forced thousands of Malians to cross the border to Mauritania.

Thursday, June 07, 2012 • Erik Johnson, DanChurchAid

“Undi Kibaré,” I say, practicing the Moré greeting I’d learned a few minutes ago. “Lafi,” Hawa replies, breaking in to a smile as she tries to continue the conversation. I just smile with incomprehension, having exhausted my knowledge of her language. Then we both break out laughing.

Thomas Ekelund

It looks like any other school yard, any other school day. But it is actually the first school day in Camp Mbere, a refugee camp only a few kilometres from the Malian border in Mauritania. Suddenly a camera attracts the attention and hundreds of children sets of, screaming and laughing. Like any other children.

When Kasongo Mutshaila makes his way through the ocean of screaming children, he can´t help it but laughing. As being the representative in Mauritania Kasongo is heading the ACT Alliance LWF work camp management in camp Mbere. And he is proud.

Appeal Target: US$ 3,039,387

Balance Requested: US$ 2,711,036

Dear Colleagues,

Mauritania and the neighbouring countries (mainly Mali and Senegal) have been affected by the ongoing Sahel food crisis characterised by food insecurity and malnutrition due to drought and other underlying factors in the region. It has been projected that 800,000 people in Mauritania, will need humanitarian assistance in 2012.

In addition to the drought situation, the ongoing armed conflict in Northern Mali has forced thousands of Malians to cross the border to Mauritania.

by Mara Caputo

Successful initiatives in the Sahel that span the aid-development continuum have been cultivated in the midst of mounting drought and despair, providing a blueprint for a way beyond chronic food insecurity.

The despair is born of a deepening food crisis as an estimated 12 million people concentrated primarily in the West African region of the Sahel teeter on the brink of famine. The governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Chad and Niger have already declared states of emergency and called for international assistance.

Listen to the the report

The European Union says that 12 million people across five West African countries are on the brink of famine. Draught, crop failure, inadequate recovery from previous years' crises, and rising food prices have left millions without any reserves well in advance of the regular lean season and propelled the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Chad and Niger to declare states of emergency.