FAMINE EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS NETWORK MAURITANIA A USAID project managed by Chemonics International Inc. TEL: (222) 25 39 18 FAX: (222) 25 39 18 E-mail:
[email protected] MONTHLY REPORT FOR APRIL 2002 RAPPORT MENSUEL DU MOIS D’AVRIL 2002 This report covers the period from March 28 to April 25, 2002 Summary FEWS NET/Mauritania conducted a fact-finding mission April 8-22 to gather information on food security conditions in crop and livestock-farming areas of the country. Available data on this year's grain harvests and on trends in conditions in livestock-raising areas point to a country- wide deterioration in food security. The local population and agricultural agencies in the regions visited by the mission agree that, on the whole, this year's grain harvests are down from last year, despite higher yields from certain types of crops and farming systems in specific grain-producing areas. Distribution of food aid is inadequate and, in general, the local population is finding it increasingly difficult to manage its food security with this year's lean period (soudure) beginning two months earlier than usual. There is a visible deterioration in the condition of natural vegetation and in grazing conditions around the country due to natural and man-made factors, depriving people of the basis of their strategy for coping with yearly grain deficits. Mass migration has intensified, particularly from Aftout and the southern portions of Hodh El Chargui and Hodh El Gharbi. The early migration of animal herds to Guidimakha and into Mali first noticed in March intensified during April, while vast tracts of grazing lands in Trarza and Brakna are unusually empty for this time of year.