FAMINE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM NETWORK MAURITANIA A USAID project managed by Chemonics International Inc. TEL: (222) 525 39 10 FAX: (222) 525 39 18 E-mail:
[email protected] MONTHLY REPORT FOR JUNE 2003 This report covers the period from May 30 to June 30, 2003 Summary The start-up of the 2003 relief program in early June helped solidify the effects of the 2002 program, which prevented the food crisis affecting Aftout, central Hodh El Gharbi and Hodh El Chargui and parts of the Senegal River Valley from growing into a full-fledged famine. However, the situation of many households in these areas bypassed by this program is still alarming, with their very survival dependent on help from migrating family members and assistance from those fortunate enough to receive emergency aid. All current coping and survival strategies basically revolve around the relief program and remittances (of food and cash) from migrating family members. Traditional local survival strategies (selling small animals and jewelry, borrowing, eating wild plant foods, skipping meals, etc.) have been stretched beyond their limits, with many households having nothing left to sell or mortgage. It is crucial to begin thinking about programs designed to help rebuild this family capital since, even if things should manage to get back to normal, it is unlikely that these destitute households will be able to make it through yearly structural deficit periods or to contain an extended crisis Despite the inadequate volumes of aid distributed and the fact that subsidized sales programs are not always in line with household purchasing power, targeted families appear to be satisfied with the way in which the aid is being dispensed by local NGOs (LWF, ACORD, OXFAM, WORLD VISION) on behalf of the World Food Program (WFP).