Attachments
Mauritania hosts over 2,000 urban refugees and asylum seekers and almost 52,000 Malian refugees in Mbera, a camp established in 2012 in the arid south-eastern region close to the Malian border.
Despite the conclusion of a peace agreement in 2015, large-scale returns of Malian refugees are not expected due to persistent violence in northern Mali. In September alone, 471 new arrivals were registered in Mbera.
Due to the harsh climate, the South-East is particularly vulnerable. In September, the region was hit by a strong sand storm which caused severe damage to the camp’s infrastructure.
KEY INDICATORS
3,018
New arrivals from Mali in 2017
471
Voluntary returns to Mali facilitated in 2017
5,059
Malian refugees with specific needs (as of 30 September 2017)
FUNDING (AS OF 15 OCTOBER)
USD 19.8 M
requested for the UNHCR operation in Mauritania
Funded 19%
Gap 81%
Update on Achievements
Operational Context
In Mauritania, UNHCR provides protection and assistance to 51,649 Malian refugees in Mbera camp in south-eastern Mauritania and to 1,580 urban refugees and 635 asylum seekers (mainly from the Central African Republic, Syria and Côte d’Ivoire) in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou.
UNHCR works closely with the Mauritanian authorities towards the development and implementation of a national asylum system. Pending the adoption of a national asylum legislation, UNHCR supports the authorities to enhance refugee protection in Mauritania by improving access to documentation, including birth registration, basic services, such as health and education, as well as economic opportunities.
Since 2012, UNHCR has lead the humanitarian response for Malian refugees in the Hodh ech Charghi region, in collaboration with the Mauritanian Government, which continues to keep its borders open to new influxes, and in cooperation with other UN agencies, national and international NGOs. Despite the conclusion of a peace agreement in Mali in June 2015, large-scale returns of refugees are not yet expected due to the security situation in northern Mali. In June 2016, Mauritania, Mali and UNHCR concluded a Tripartite Agreement for the voluntary repatriation of Malian refugees. When conditions allow for return, this agreement will provide a framework to facilitate voluntary return. In the meantime, it reaffirms the commitment of Mauritania and Mali to protect refugees.