Attachments
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
• WFP’s operations aim at responding to basic food and nutrition needs of targeted vulnerable populations, while providing humanitarian air transport service (UNHAS) to hard-to-reach regions for humanitarian and development partners.
• In parallel, WFP strives to ensure the continuation of its resilience programmes, while strengthening institutional capacities, including through social protection, and promoting gender equality. WFP has been present in Mauritania since 1964.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
• The Islamic Republic of Mauritania faces significant challenges related to land degradation and desertification, with vast portions of its territory being arid and only 0.4 percent of land classified as arable. Desertification drastically reduces soil fertility and productive capacity, negatively impacting both agricultural and pastoral livelihoods.
• According to the November 2025 Cadre Harmonisé analysis’ projections, 500,089 people (11 percent of the population) could face crisislevels -or higher- of food insecurity during the upcoming lean season (June–September). In addition, an estimated 112,306 refugees in and outside of the M’bera camp are projected to face these conditions.
• Mauritania hosts the largest number of Malian refugees in West Africa, providing protection to more than 310,000 refugees, including 13,000 newly arrivals in Hodh Chargui between October 2025 and March 2026, of whom 80 percent are women and children.
• WFP has intensified its relief response to support both refugees and host communities. A durable solutions approach was introduced to promote the economic inclusion of refugees, strengthen their resilience and facilitate their integration into national social systems.