USAID Humanitarian Attache visits Mauritania

UNCLAS ROME 004850

SIPDIS


AIDAC

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT FOR AMBASSADOR LEBARON AND DCM BROWN
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, D/A SCHIECK, AA/DCHA
WINTER, AA/AFR NEWMAN AND DAA/AFR BROWN, AFR/WA, DCHA/D/FFP
LANDIS, D/OFDA MCCONNELL, AA/GLOBAL PETERSON
STATE FOR IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AF KANSTEINER,
AF/W, IO/EDA BEHREND/KOTOK
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND CHAMBLISS
USDA/FAS NAIROBI FOR KESSLER
USMISSION GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLRY AND USAID/KYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS AND USAID/LERNER
NSC FOR JDWORKEN AND AFRICA DIRECTORATE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF KUNR MR WFP UN
SUBJECT: USAID Humanitarian Attache visits Mauritania
September 13-17, 2003

REF: (A) NOUAKCHOTT 00740

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SUMMARY
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1. US Mission/Rome humanitarian attache visited Mauritania
September 13-17, and traveled in the drought affected
regions of Bareina, Aleg and Boghe. Assessments of this area
show a serious emergency situation. Many vulnerable groups,
particularly children, will require continuing food and non-
food support to meet their basic needs, for the foreseeable
future. End summary.

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Background
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2. US Mission/Rome Humanitarian Attache visited Mauritania
September 13-17, 2003, and traveled in the drought affected
regions of Bareina, Aleg and Boghe with WFP emergency unit
and partner (Oxfam) personnel. Mauritania is currently
affected by a serious food crisis caused by recurring
drought that is becoming endemic, and increasing rural
destitution. Without effective intervention, this
humanitarian crisis could result in a famine outcome.
Following an international appeal by the Government of
Mauritania to assist 800,000 drought-affected, WFP approved,
on December 19, 2002, an emergency response to cover the
immediate needs of 420,000 Mauritanians. WFP has established
implementing partnerships with four international NGOs
(Oxfam GB, World Vision, Lutheran World Federation and
ACORD) to ensure efficient emergency management and
distribution.


3. The Islamic Republic of Mauritania (about twice the size
of France or roughly the size of Texas and New Mexico
combined) attained independence in 1960. While there is some
opposition, it is essentially run by one party and continues
to experience ethnic tensions between its minority black
population and the dominant Maur (Arab-Berber) populace. Its
present population is estimated at 2.91 million, with the
bulk of the citizenry concentrated in the cities of
Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, and along the Senegal River in
the southern part of the country.


4. Half the population depends on agriculture and livestock
for their livelihood, even though many of the nomads and
subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent
droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. According to FAO,
Mauritania's cultivable area is estimated at about 20
million hectares (49 million acres),of which irrigation
potential, given the soil resources, is 257,000 hectares. At
present, the average cost of irrigation development varies
between USD 2,200/hectare for small schemes to about USD
12,500 for larger endeavors. The nation's coastal waters are
among the richest fishing areas in the world, but
overexploitation by foreign interests threatens this key
source of revenue. External debt (2000 estimate) is USD 2.5
billion. GNP is calculated at USD 370. Since 1981, the
United States has provided to Mauritania about USD 100
million in economic and food assistance. USAID ceased its
operations in Mauritania in 1991.


5. The country is chronically food deficit with cereal
production averaging in normal years some 149,000 metric
tons per year - about 37 percent of requirements.R BROWN, AFR/WA,
DCHA/D/FFP
LANDIS, D/OFDA MCCONNELL, AA/GLOBAL PETERSON
STATE FOR IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AF KANSTEINER,
AF/W, IO/EDA BEHREND/KOTOK
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND CHAMBLISS
USDA/FAS NAIROBI FOR KESSLER
USMISSIO


-------------- -
"Snapshot" on present state of food insecurity
-------------- -


6. USAID's FEWS NET (September 30, 2003) Alert for
Mauritania reports "Improved pasture, higher livestock
prices and a fall of cereal prices have eased the burden on
pastoralist families. Families living in most agricultural
areas can expect the best harvest in many years. The
positive prospects for the imminent harvest, however, only
represent a first step toward recovery. Continuing food
distribution to vulnerable groups and investment in recovery
with non-food resources remain essential for reducing the
vulnerability of Mauritanians to future shocks."


7. Latest WFP vulnerability assessment (VAM) studies
(September 2003) show 19 percent of the country's population
suffers from acute malnutrition, compared to an average of
10 percent for sub-Saharan Africa. Note: This is a
significant deterioration relative to earlier comparable
studies, from WFP in March 2002, and a Demographic and
Health report (EDS 2001). End note.


8. An additional 40 percent of children under-five suffer
from chronic malnutrition. The under-five mortality rate is
high at 105 per 1,000 live births and the maternal mortality
rate is equally high at 930 per 100,000 live births.


9. The most vulnerable populations are concentrated in the
"Aftout Triangle," an area 500 kilometers southeast of the
capital Nouakchott near the border with Senegal and Mali.
Note: the disaster response effort to date has not been
adequate in ebbing the flow of acute malnutrition. End note.


10. Further, as per a FEWS NET release dated October 7,
"Food conditions and prospects continue to worsen in the
river valley and in the Aftout. To date, there has been no
consistent program for correcting the 204,589 metric ton
annual cereal production shortfall. The dizzying rise in the
price of staple foodstuffs, at a time when many households
have lost their small livestock and when they cannot count
on ecological supplementation (gathering) has outpaced the
survival strategies developed by rural populations; many
households are already living under pre-famine conditions."


11. As per FEWS NET, even if this present rainy season
proves copious, farmers face four major obstacles: a)
shortage of seeds - there will be country-wide cutbacks in
the size of areas planted in rain fed crops if seed access
does not improve; b) shortage of manpower - farming areas
have been virtually drained of their workforce; c) erratic
pasture production- the so-called "waltz of the animals" has
begun which will force replanting of fields several times
due to damage from straying animals; and d) cutbacks in
irrigation schemes - given the acknowledged serious
shortages of improved seeds, fertilizer, mechanical plows
and pesticides. In sum, the situation is (and is likely to
remain) extremely unstable.

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U.S. Mission/Rome conclusions and recommendations
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12. Drought is becoming the rule rather than the exception
in Mauritania; the country has experienced drought in four
of the past five years. It is suggested that WFP seriouslyLAS SECTION 03
OF 04 ROME 004850

AIDAC

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT FOR AMBASSADOR LEBARON AND DCM BROWN
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, D/A SCHIECK, AA/DCHA
WINTER, AA/AFR NEWMAN AND DAA/AFR BROWN, AFR/WA, DCHA/D/FFP
LANDIS, D/OFDA MCCONNELL, AA/GLOBAL PETERSON
STATE FOR IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AF KANSTEINER,
AF/W, IO/EDA BEHREND/KOTOK
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND CHAMBLISS
USDA/FAS NAIROBI FOR KESSLER
USMISSION GENEVA FOR AMBASSA


consider conversion of its ad hoc emergency (EMOP) approach
into a longer-term protracted relief and recovery (PRRO)
operation. Note. As a recent IDS-Save UK study on Ethiopia
observed: "the most common proximate cause of destitution is
catastrophic and recurrent crop failures mainly associated
with agricultural droughts but also due to other hazards,
such as pests." End note.


13. WFP is presently partnered with four international non-
governmental organizations (NGOs). While laudable, it must
begin to focus on recruitment and strengthening of local,
indigenous NGOs.


14. WFP's ability to conduct emergency needs assessments
should be strengthened. In particular, WFP should strive to
better understand how pastoralists use food aid and make
appropriate adjustments to its program in those areas.


15. WFP, as one of the most active U.N. agencies (if not the
most active) working in Mauritania, should advocate for more
involvement from other U.N. agencies and the "line
ministries" such as the Ministry of Health, to tackle food
security and health issues.


16. WFP continues to "sit-on" 25.57 million Ouguiya (the
Mauritanian local currency),approximately USD 100,000, of
USG PL 480 Title II Section 206 funds turned over to the WFP
country office in 1993. The continuing inability of WFP to
spend these funds and close out this account is an
organizational embarrassment that calls into question WFP's
implementation capacity in Mauritania. It is suggested that
this money might best be spent in strengthening activities
and capacities of local NGOs.


17. WFP should actively encourage the government to
undertake an immediate campaign to give top priority to
feeding children, as endorsed by the Mauritanian Minister of
Education at the WFP sponsored conference on the Alliance
for Action on School Feeding in the Sahel (held in Dakar) in
September.


18. Warehousing of WFP commodities in GOM storage facilities
particularly in Nouakchott, does not conform to
international standards.


19. It is alleged that the national trucking consortia (FNT)
effectively blocks competition, provides unreliable service,
and demands rates higher than those charged for comparable
hauling services in other Sahelian countries. As per ref A,
the Federation National des Transport's monopoly - where
costs are the highest in the region despite low wages and
the low price of gas - has caught the attention of the World
Bank. It is suggested that the WFP Executive Director
address this issue in a letter to the President of
Mauritania.


20. The installation of WFP's financial system WINGS and
commodity tracking system COMPAS, including WFP direct
financial control of its operations, is seen as a priority.


21. It is suggested that WFP explore strengthening its
relationship with the private sector, particularly with
Grand Moulin de Mauritanie (GMM). WFP may wish to consider
requesting non-fat dried milk (NFDM) from USDA (Section 416
b) as it pursues options related to production of an
indigenous blended food (used for weaning) - along the lines
of its discussions in Senegal related to "Chocosen."STRATOR NATSIOS, D/A
SCHIECK, AA/DCHA
WINTER, AA/AFR NEWMAN AND DAA/AFR BROWN, AFR/WA, DCHA/D/FFP
LANDIS, D/OFDA MCCONNELL, AA/GLOBAL PETERSON
STATE FOR IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AF KANSTEINER,
AF/W, IO/EDA BEHREND/KOTOK
USDA/



22. WFP's VAM unit is advised to strengthen its linkages
with FEWS, Oxfam, and FAO's GIEWS - in terms of better
documentation of drought and destitution trends.


23. WFP needs to develop a better partnership with FAO on
drought response. US Mission/Rome will work with FAO
Headquarters to strengthen its emergency outreach in
Mauritania. FAO Mauritania needs to focus its attention on a
more complete and comprehensive emergency needs assessment
for seeds and on developing a common methodology for
emergency seeds interventions with its government and NGO
partners.


24. WFP needs to tighten up its local cost calculation
matrices while increasing its dialogue with NGO partners
related to the delivery of WFP relief supplies. Note. Donors
in general should prioritize increasing resource flows to
local NGOs. End note.


25. It is suggested that, if appropriate, the U.S. explore a
Title I bilateral assistance program, with local currencies
generated for use in drought response efforts and other
development projects.


26. We also underline the importance, for both the UN and
international donors, of giving equal priority to food and
non-food needs in Mauritania to ensure the most complete
emergency response possible. Hall


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2003ROME04850 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED