Mauritania

Mauritania is vulnerable to natural hazards such as drought and flooding, causing food insecurity, malnutrition, and disrupted livelihoods. Drought conditions across Mauritania have caused lower agricultural production and depleted food reserves, decreasing overall food availability. Malnutrition rates are high due to poor food availability and access. In mid-2018 a national nutrition survey found that 12% of children under 5 were acutely malnourished (GAM), with 2.3% presenting severe acute malnutrition, and 8.6% suffering from moderate acute malnutrition, a slight deterioration comparing to the previous year. Drought also affects livelihoods, leading to early transhumance, decreased income of affected households and use of negative coping mechanisms, such as selling livelihoods assets. According to the latest Cadre Harmonise, a total of 376,000 people face IPC Phases 3 (Crisis) and 4 (Emergency)levels of food insecurity over the January-May period. This number is projected to rise to 607,000 people from June-August as an impact of the lean season.