GLIDE n° OT-2012-000024-MRT

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent emergency response. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation’s disaster response system and increases the ability of National Societies to respond to disasters.

CHF 157,396 has been allocated from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the National Society in delivering immediate assistance to some 3,000 beneficiaries (600 families). Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Summary: Since end of January, 2012 violent clashes between Tuareg rebels and the Malian Army in the Northern part of the country have led to massive population movements inside Mali and to neighbouring countries such as Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso and Guinea Conakry. In Mauritania, the Representative of UNHCR highlighted significant population movement in the department of Bassikounou, at the far South-East of the country. So far, more than 11,000 people have fled the conflict and crossed the border to seek refuge in and around the commune of Fassala, located about 3 km away from the border with Mali. They have left behind their homes and livelihoods, including herds of cattle.

Among the 11,000 many of them are women and children who already show signs of malnutrition. Moreover, these refugees represent an additional burden to a region that is already facing a serious food and nutrition crisis due to poor rainfall in 2011 in the region of Hodh Chargui (where Fassala is located). As a result, vulnerability of both refugees and host communities is highly aggravated.

The Mauritanian Red Crescent Society (MRC) is closely monitoring the situation with its partners, including ARDM (Association pour la Recherche et le Développement en Mauritanie ) a local NGO based in Fassala.
Food, shelter, blankets and water are the most urgent needs. MRC will provide the refugees and host communities with appropriate emergency assistance to preserve their rights to health and dignity.

This operation is expected to be implemented over 4 months and will therefore be completed by June 2012. A final report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by September, 2012).