Operations update n° 1

Summary:
After a slow beginning due to an institutional reorganization of the Mauritanian Red Crescent and recruitment of IFRC personnel in Mauritania for both the food security appeal and population movement DREF operations, the implementation of activities have increased significantly since April 2012.

The main achievement for the reporting period has been the set up of the field team in Maghta Lahjar. After establishing a base, recruiting staff and coordinating with local authorities, the mobile nutritional unit, deployed to screen and manage moderate to severe malnutrition cases, was operational, officially starting its activities on 9 April 2012. To date, it has screened and registered 1,423 children under 5 years of age in 18 towns of Maghta Lahjar department (3,322 households out the 7,000 targeted; 47% implementation rate) in the Brakna region. A total of 294 (20,5%) children were declared malnourished with 212 (14.8%) being moderate cases and 82 (5.7%) classified as severe cases.

Supplementary feeding for one month was procured and distributed to 31.6% of the total malnourished children identified, with the remainder (68.5%) to be reached by the end of May. Distribution of nutritional Weighting session by MRC and IFRC in April 2012. Photo: MRC Operation update Mauritania: Food insecurity2 rations is under way.
The regional water and sanitation officer from IFRC’s Sahel regional office and the MRC water and sanitation officer started volunteer trainings and technical rehabilitation in mid-May. Information gathering and contacts were established with local authorities, community leaders and community-based organizations (especially women gardening cooperatives) during the site visits prior to implementation.

The IFRC team in Nouakchott completed a first draft of security guidelines for the country and attends all Red Cross Red Crescent Movement coordination meetings which include ICRC and French Red Cross, and is chaired by the National Society. IFRC also participates in meetings with UNICEF, World Food Programme (WFP) and MSF-France. A Red Cross-UNICEF partnership for the supply of nutritional support for children is taking form at the moment. The team has also been directly engaged in logistics and procurement activities to support the National Society during a challenging institutional transition period.

Funds are urgently required to support this operation. Donors who have contributed to this appeal to date include the Canadian Red Cross Society, Japanese Red Cross Society, Red Cross of Monaco and the Swedish Red Cross. IFRC, on behalf of Mauritania Red Crescent, would like to thank these donors for their kind and generous support.