FAMINE EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS NETWORK MAURITANIA A USAID project managed by Chemonics International Inc. TEL: (222) 525 39 18 FAX: (222) 525 39 18 E-mail:
[email protected] MONTHLY REPORT FOR MAY 2002 RAPPORT MENSUEL DU MOIS DE MAI 2002 This report covers the period from April 25 to May 28, 2002 Summary Food security continues to deteriorate in all rural areas of the country, as well as in slum areas of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. Information from local farmers and regional agricultural agencies in the Gorgol, Brakna and Trarza Wilayas during the last ten days of May suggests that this year's lean period (soudure) will be the worst since 1984, a year of food crisis in the Sahel. Household capacity to access needed food products is sharply reduced and, in certain parts of Aftout, the Senegal River Valley, Hodh El Gharbi and Hodh El Chargui Wilayas, is at its lowest level in ten years. This situation stems from a combination of several factors — this past year's smaller grain harvests, dwindling or loss of potential water resources, the sudden loss of large numbers of small animals in January, the growing shortages of pasture and wild foods in the wake of the January storms, hikes in staple food prices and the inadequacy of the humanitarian aid furnished to date, both from a qualitative as well as a quantitative standpoint. It is becoming increasingly difficult for households to manage their food security during this year's lean period, which began two months earlier than usual. Their only recourse is migration and borrowing.