WFP runs two operations in the most food insecure regions of Mauritania. These aim to save lives, to strengthen the livelihoods of populations affected by natural disasters, to make vulnerable people more resilient to shocks as well as to support national capacity building in addressing food security.
In 2008 and 2009, the bulk of these activities are implemented in the southern agro-pastoral regions and the peri-urban periphery of the capital city Nouakchott.
WFP’s relief and recovery operation focuses on life-saving activities, community asset creation, access to village food security reserves and community supplementary feeding centres for malnourished children. The activities aim also to strengthen the national capacities of response mechanisms for emergency situations.This two-year project targets more than 750,000 vulnerable people, including poor rural communities, malnourished children aged under-five and pregnant and lactating women, and returnees from Senegal.
WFP’s Development Programme has two components: school feeding to support 161,000 primary school children and food-for-work activities in favour of 195,000 rural poor.The ongoing project is expected to end in December 2009.