The shortage of rain during 2011 has caused a significant drop in the agricultural production and fodder for animals in the Sahel region of West Africa. In Mauritania this has resulted in a food crisis affecting approximately 700,000 people, located mainly in Hodh Echargui, Guidmagha, Gorgol and Assaba.  Coupled with this has been the mass movement of refugees from Mali as a result of armed clashes. These two events have led to humanitarian organizations scaling up operations in order to address the immediate needs of beneficiaries.