Seasonably dry conditions prevailed up to late May. Satellite imagery indicates that first significant rains may have been received in central and southern parts in early June. Planting of coarse grains should have started following the rains. However, replantings may be necessary if rains do not continue.
Throughout May no Desert Locusts were observed in the north except for an isolated adult near Atar. On the 8th of May, a group of adults was reported in the south near the Malian border. No other locusts were seen in the south. Locust numbers are expected to increase in the south as adults appear from the north. These may be supplemented by other adults and perhaps a few small groups coming from the Red Sea area. However, the number of incoming adults is expected to be low and insignificant. Small-scale egg laying could occur with the onset of the rains.
The overall food supply situation is anticipated to be tight for several populations affected by a poor crop in rainfed areas, notably in Brakna, Gorgol and Tagant regions. Cereal prices are much higher than in previous years at the same period. A multi-agency assessment of the needs of the affected populations recommended food assistance for 200 000 persons for 6 months amounting to 16 500 tons (14 400 tons of cereals, 1 440 tons of beans and 720 tons of vegetable oil). An Emergency Operation has been jointly approved by FAO and WFP to cover these needs and distribution started in June. The government and NGOs have also undertaken or scheduled food distributions in Nouakchott, Nouadhibou and other wilayas not covered by the WFP project. Two camps of Tuareg refugees in the east near Bassiknou will close in late June following repatriation to Mali. Some assistance is scheduled for the local population for rehabilitation of the areas around the camps. 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. There were substantial imports in late 1996 and early 1997.