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,

1. Brief description of the emergency and impact

More than 19 million people in the Sahel region including 2.8 million from Burkina Faso are at risk of food insecurity according to FAO report1. The reason for this severe food crisis is not only caused by a prolonged drought and the subsequent severe decline of agricultural production but is also a consequence of high food prices, displacement and chronic poverty. The situation has been further worsened by the political instability in Mali and the influx of an estimated 65,0002 Malian refugees in Burkina Faso.

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.

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.