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As of December 2025, Mauritania hosts an estimated 309,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, the vast majority of whom reside in the Hodh Chargui region, where they represent nearly 35% of the local population.
Established in 2012, Mbera Camp currently shelters approximately 120,000 refugees, while an additional 170,000 have settled within host communities across the region.
The security situation in neighboring Mali remains highly volatile, with recent escalations further destabilizing border areas. In this context, large-scale returns are not anticipated, and UNHCR and partners are preparing for a potential new influx in the coming weeks.
In absence of near-term prospects for durable solutions, UNHCR's protection and solutions strategy in Hodh Chargui focuses on strengthening inclusive national systems to ensure refugees have access to their rights and essential services alongside host communities. While advancing this long-term vision, UNHCR also provides a tailored, context-specific response to address immediate protection and assistance needs, in collaboration with partners.