FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report 05/97

MAURITANIA

CURRENT SITUATION

Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Recession crops are now being harvested, but output is anticipated to be limited. Following several asssessment missions, the aggregate output of cereals is now estimated at 130 450 tons including 74 150 tons of rice and 56 300 tons of coarse grains. The final results of the national production survey will be finalized shortly.

Isolated Desert Locust immature adults were present in February between Akjoujt and Atar. Nomads reported seeing a mature swarm moving north in the El Hank region near Bir Amrane which may have originated near the Malian border where vegetation is reported to be green. There was also an unconfirmed report of mature adults and hoppers near the Moroccan border. Low numbers of adults will continue to mature in parts of Adrar, Inchiri and Tiris-Zemmour. Some of these could breed on a limited scale if further rainfall occurs.

The overall food supply situation is anticipated to be tight for several populations affected by a poor crop in rainfed production areas, notably in Brakna, Gorgol and Tagant regions. Cereal prices are much higher than in previous years at the same period. In January, FAO and WFP organized a local multidonor assessment of the needs of the affected populations in Assaba, Brakna, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Tagant, Trarza and the two Hodhs. Undertaking rapid assessments of the nutritional situation, including anthropometric measures on children under 5 years, the mission observed high malnutrition rates in several villages. It recommended food assistance for 200 000 persons during 6 months amounting to 16 500 tons (14 400 tons of cereals, 1 440 tons of beans and 720 tons of vegetal oil). A WFP Emergency Operation has recently been approved to cover these needs. The government has also started food distributions in Nouakchott, Nouadhibou and other wilayas not covered by the WFP project. Food assistance is also being distributed to Tuareg refugees in M’Berra camp in the east of the country. Their number is currently estimated at 25 000. Since June 1996, about 20 000 refugees returned to Mali. In 1997, about 14 000 refugees are also anticipated to return to Mali. For the 1996/97 marketing year (November/October), the cereal import requirement including re-exports is estimated at 310 000 tons and the food aid requirement at 75 000 tons. Substantial imports exceeding 100 000 tons have already been registered in late 1996 and early 1997. Therefore, prices of wheat decreased somewhat.