Operations

Operational context and population trends
 
UNHCR in Mauritania protects and assists more than 50,000 Malian refugees who have fled tensions in their country since 2012. They are hosted in Mberra camp, in south-eastern Mauritania, where UNHCR and its partners provide essential services. In 2015, more than 400 new arrivals in the camp were registered, further exemplifying the volatility of the situation in Mali.
 
In addition, UNHCR protects and assists more than 1,600 refugees and asylum-seekers from various origins (including Syrians, Central Africans and Ivoirians) in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. The number of Syrian refugees and asylum-seekers has risen significantly in 2015, from 50 in January to over 300.
 
Key priorities in 2016
 
Assistance to Malian refugees in Mberra camp:
 
The security situation in northern Mali, where the majority of refugees originate from, remains volatile. As a result, large-scale voluntary repatriation is not foreseen for 2016.
 
UNHCR’s strategy in Mberra camp in 2016 is four-fold:
 

• Maintain protection for refugees, particularly for individuals with specific needs (some 10% of the population), including unaccompanied and separated children and disabled individuals, and ensure refugees’ access to essential services such as health, water and sanitation, shelter, nutrition and education
• Continue to strengthen refugees’ self-reliance through income-generation activities, literacy classes and access to gardening areas in order to prepare them for future durable solutions
• Promote peaceful coexistence between the host population living around the camp and the refugee community through facilitated discussions between the two communities, awareness-raising activities and projects in host villages
• Inform refugees on security and infrastructure conditions in areas of return and facilitate voluntary returns.

 
Assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers in urban areas:
 
In Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, UNHCR will continue to monitor and ensure the protection of refugees and asylum-seekers through documentation, prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence and child abuse, and assistance to individuals with specific needs. UNHCR will support refugees’ access to health care and education. In addition, the Office will invest more resources to strengthen livelihood opportunities for refugees through income generating activities, vocational training and literacy classes. Finally, UNHCR will continue to promote durable solutions (including voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement) for refugees.