• Crisis Severity ?
    2.7
    0 Very low
    Very high 5
  • Impact ?
    2.8
    0 Very low
    Very high 5
  • Humanitarian Conditions ?
    3.1
    0 Very low
    Very high 5
  • Complexity ?
    1.9
    0 Very low
    Very high 5
  • Access Constraints ?
    1.0
    No constraints
    Extreme constraints
See all indicators

Key figures

  • 2,314,000 People affected [?]
  • 879,000 People in Need [?]
  • 796,000 Moderate humanitarian conditions - Level 3 [?]
  • 83,000 Severe humanitarian conditions - Level 4 [?]

Overview

19/01/2022

Mauritania is vulnerable to natural hazards such as droughts and flooding, which cause malnutrition, disrupted livelihoods, and food insecurity. The country is also facing the dire consequences of climate change. The majority of the population relies on traditional agriculture and livestock farming and is heavily dependent on the rainy seasons.? 

The land in Mauritania is mainly desert; only about 0.5% is arable land. Climate change led to population displacement in the Sahel, but there is no information of similar phenomena in Mauritania. Over 22% of people live in poverty, and 9.8% of children are facing acute malnutrition.? 

Inflation rates are decreasing in Mauritania, with 2.3% in 2020 compared to 3% in 2018, 6.3% in 2010, and 12.12% in 2005.?

Latest Developments

21/10/2022

No recent significant humanitarian developments. The crisis is being monitored by our analysis team.

Risk

Rising food and fuel prices worsen socioeconomic instability and ethnic tensions, leading to social unrest and food and livelihood needs Latest update: 19/10/2022

Probability

Highly unlikely Somewhat likely Highly likely

Impact

Very low Moderate Major

Key Priorities

19/01/2022

Food security: Over 660,000 people (15% of the total country population) are estimated to face IPC Phase 3 or above levels of food insecurity during the lean season between June–August 2022. This constitutes a 36% increase compared to 2021 and an 8% increase compared to 2020. ?

Over 484,000 people faced IPC Phase 3 or above levels of food insecurity between June–August 2021 –a 21% decrease from over 609,000 people facing the same levels in June–August 2020. ?

Nutrition: Malnutrition is widespread in Mauritania, with more than 340,000 people in need of nutrition assistance. Over 470,000 children (27%) live in extreme poverty. It is estimated that over 136,000 children will face acute malnutrition, including more than 32,700 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in 2022.? 

WASH: Over 84,000 people are facing lack of access to safe water. Floods and droughts are affecting people’s ability to access WASH services.?

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Source: CILSS 2019
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