A ountry Profilepdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAQ450.pdf · A ountry Profile Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development Washington, D.C. 20523 BESTAVAILABLECOpy

A ountry Profile

Office of Foreign Disaster AssistanceAgency for International DevelopmentWashington, D.C. 20523

BESTAVAILABLE COpy

MAURITANIA: A COUNTRY PROFILE

prepared for

The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster AssistanceAgency for International Development

Department of StateWashington, D.C. 20523

by1)-eN!',)\oS ;j. 1< iNc'b

Evaluation Technologies, Inc.Arlington, Virginia

under contract AID/SOD/PDC-C-2112

The profile of Mauritania is part of a series designed to provide baselinecountry data in support of the planning and relief operations of theOffice of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). Content, scope, andsources have evolved over the course of the last several years; therelatively narrow focus is intentional. To avoid redundancy, some topicsone might expect to find in a "country profile" are not covered here.

We hope that the information provided will also be useful to others inthe disaster assistance and development communities. Every effort ismade to obtain current, reliable data; unfortunately it is not possibleto issue updates as fast as changes would warrant. A cautionary note,therefore, to the reader: statistics are indicators at best, and ifnames and numbers matter, the bibliography will point to a current source.

We invite your comments and corrections. Address these and other queriesto OFDA, A.I.D., as given above.

May 1984

i

AFRICA

OFDA COUNTRY PROFILES: MAY 1984

CARIBBEAN

Cape VerdeChadEast Africa Regional Profile

DjiboutiEthiopiaKenyaSomaliaSudanTanzaniaUganda

Gambia-SenegalMaliMauritaniaNigerSahel Transportation SurveyUpper VoltaZaireZambia

ASIA

BangladeshBurmaIndiaIndonesiaMalaysiaNepalPakistanPhilippinesSri Lanka

NEAR EAST

Turkey

SOUTH PACIFIC

FijiTongaWestern Samoa

CARICOM Regional ProfileAntiguaBarbadosBelizeDominicaGrenadaGuyanaMontserratSt. Kitts-NevIs-AnguillaSt. LuciaSt. VincentTrinidad and Tobago

Dominican RepublicHaitiJamaica

CENTRAL/SOUTH AMERICA

BoliviaChileCosta RicaEcuadorEl SalvadorGuatemalaHondurasNicaraguaPeru

INnIAN OCEAN

Island Countries of theIndian Ocean

The ComorosMadagascarMaldivesMauritiusReunionSeychelles

ii

MAURITANIA Contents

Contents

Preface .........................................OFDA Country Profile List" .

iii

Genera1 Information .

........................................Geography Population

1.1.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.91.10loll1.121.131.141.151.161.171.181.19

Geographic codes .Time zones ...............................................Host country mission .U.S. mission to Mauritania ........Currency ............... e Travel and visa information.Calendar and h,olidays ...................................Treaties and agreements ...International organization memberships Government and political history Ethnic and sociocultural groups Languages ........ .....................-..'.Religions .........................

........................................Rea1t h. ".Economy................................................Communications ..Transportation...................................

1-1411111222234566889

1213

Disaster Vulnerability ................................2.2.12.22.32.42.52.62.7

Overview of the physical environment Drought '............................Desertifi'cat ion .......... . -.........Malnutrition and disease ' .Disaster history...................Vulnerability of agriculture Vulnerability of infrastructure.

16-2216171919202022

Road network and infrastructure Housing '................................' .

Early warning systems ......................

Airports _ .

24-392426262729313133343435363738

resources _...........facilities ~

Health care facilities andFood resources and storage

Ports and port facilities .................

Disaster Preparedness and Assistance ..3.1 Host country disaster plan and organization3.2 Mauritanian Red Crescent .3.33.43.53.63.73.83.93.10 Water and energy resources ....................3.11 U.S. mission disaster relief plan and resources 3.12 Voluntary agencies ......................3.13 International organizations 3.14 Mitigation and the development process ..

3.

iii

MAURITANIA Contents

Bibliography e _ III 38-40

MapsClimatic and Geographic Zones ............... o Isohy'etal Map...................................... . .Map of Islamic Republic of Mauritania

iv

151823

--- International boundary-'- Region boundary* National capital

(1) Region capital~ Railroad--- Road

o 50 100 Kilometers6 I i I ~o I

-24--.. __ ._ ._..

MAURITANIA

1. General Information

1.1 Geographic Codes

1. 2 Time Zones

1.3 Host Country Mission


AID Standard 682State Regional AFFIPS MR

GMTEST + 5

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania2129 Leroy Pl. NWWashington~ D.C. 20008Phone: 202/232-5700

For current information on the MauritanianEmbassy staff in the United States, consultthe most recent edition of the u.S.Department of State, Diplomatic List.

1.4 U.S. Mission to Mauritania

Embassy of the United StatesNouakchott (E), B.P. 222Phone: 532-23/527-68Telex: AMEMB 558 MTN

For current information on the U.S. Embassystaff in Mauritania~ refer to the most recentedition of the Department of State, KeyOfficers of Foreign Service Posts.

1.5 Currency (February 1983)

55.87 Ougulyas = us $1.005 Khoums = 1 Ouguiya

1

MAURITANIA

1.6 Travel and VisaInformation

1.7 Calendar and Holidays

1.8 Treaties and Agreements


An entry visa, valid for 3 months, isrequired for all US citizens. Visa can beobtained for $10 at the Mauritanian Embassy,Washington, DC 20008 or the Mission ofMauritania to the U.N., New York, NY 10018.Yellow fever, meningitis, cholera, measles,and smallpox vaccinations are required.

Labor DaY~e C1 QClClee&l.ClCI -.May 1African Liberation Day May 25Independence Day, National Day Nov. 28

Mauritania also observes the Muslim religiousholidays of Korite'-Id ul Fitr (end ofRamadan), Leilat al Meiraj (ascension ofMuhammad) and Tabaski-Id ul-Adha. Dates arebased on the lunar calendar. Fiscal year:calendar year

Development AssistanceEconomic and Technical CooperationInvestment GuarantiesPeace Corps

1.9 International Organization Memberships

AFDB (African Development Bank), AIOEC,(Association of Iron Ore ExportingCountries), Arab League, CEAO (West AfricanEconomic Community), CILSS (InterstateCommittee to Combat Sahel Drought),FAO, G-77, GATT, ICAO, IDA, IDB (IslamicDevelopment Bank), ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, OAU,OMVS (Organization for the Development ofthe Senegal River Valley), U.N., UNESCO,WHO, WMO.

2

MAURITANIA

1.10 Government and Political History


Mauritania gained its independence fromFrance in 1960. The constitution of 1961established Mauritania as an Islamicrepublic, with a presidential system ofgovernment. Until 1978 the President andmembers of the National Assembly werenominated by the Mauritanian Peoples Party(PPM), and then elected by direct universalsuffrage. Between 1961 and 1978, MoktarQuId Daddah served as President. In 1978,in the midst of economic collapse and therenewed war over disputed territory inWestern Sahara, Ould Daddah was overthrownin a bloodless coup led by army Chief ofStaff, Lt. Col. Moustapha QuId Salek.

Since 1978, Mauritania has been ruled by amilitary junta, calling itself the MilitaryCommittee for National Salvation (CMSN). Thecurrent head of state is the President, Lt.Col. Mohammed Khouna QuId Haidalla. In asurprise announcement in December 1980,President Haidalla and the CMSN announced theappointment of a civilian, Ahmed QuIdBneijara, as prime minister. TheCMSN alsosubmitted a liberal draft constitution,calling for a democratic, parliamentarysystem of government. However, in 1981, theCMSN decided to replace Bneijara with Lt.Col. Maaouya Ould Sidi Taya and called offthe referendum on the draft constitution.

Following the bloodless military coup in1978, the National Assembly was dissolved andall legislative functions were assumed by acouncil of ministers. appointed by the CMSN.Although all political parties have beenbanned, the Alliance for a DemocraticMauritania (AMD), comprised of exiledpolitical and military leaders, is based inRabat, Morocco.

For administrative purposes, Mauritania isdivided into 13 regions plus the capitaldistrict of Nouakchott. The judicial systemreflects a combination of French and Islamiccodes. The highest court is the SupremeCourt, comprised of six members, including a

3

MAURITANIA

1.11 Ethnic andSociocultural Groups


modern jurist as president and an Islamicjudge as vice president. Below the SupremeCourt are the High Court of Justice, theState Security Court, and the Courts of FirstInstance.

The Moors (Maures) are the largest ethnicgroup in Mauritania, comprising 80% of thepopulation. The white Moors, or bidan, areof predominately Arab-Berber descent, andaccount for 54% of the total population. Theblack Moors are also primarily Berber, butwith admixture of Negro blood. In the rigidMoor caste system, the elite white Moorsbelong to the hassan (warrior) caste or thezwaya (religious) caste. The lower castewhite Moors, or the zenega, are of mixedBerber-black descent. The lowest caste iscalled the harratin, comprised of black-skinned Moors descended from slaves.Traditionally, most Moors are pastoralnomads, but recent droughts have driven manynomads to the cities and rural communities.

The remaining 20% are blacks belonging to theFulbe, Toucoleur, Soninke, Wolof, and Bambaraethnic groups. The Fulbe, like the Moors,are nomadic, while the other tribes aresedentary farmers concentrated in the SenegalRiver valley. The black sedentary groupshave a population growth rate three timesthat of the white Moors and twice that ofthe black Moors.

Considerable animosity exists between thewhite Moors and the blacks. Historically,the Moors took blacks as slaves or sold themin the slave market. Despite- the officialban on slavery and discrimination, the Anti-Slavery Society reported in 1981 that100,000 black Mauritanians live as slaves,primarily in isolated nomad camps. PresidentHaidalla has repeatedly denounced slavery inan effort to ease racial tensions. The pro-longed drought has also intensified the

4

MAURITANIA 1. General Information

competition between the nomadic herdsmenand the black farmers in the south. When theNational Assembly was dissolved following the1978 coup, the black minorities lost a greatdeal of their representation in the govern-ment. Arabization of the legal, politicaland education systems has further exascer-bated the cultural conflicts between the twogroups.

Ethnic Percentage of PopulationMoors (Maures)Toucouleurs (Halphoolaren)Soninke (Sarakoles)Fulbe (Peuls, Fulani)Wolof (Ouolof)Bambara (Bamba)

in 197680%

9%5%5%

0.5%0.5%

1.12 Languages

Source: Encyclopedia of the Third WorldNote: Since 1976 census, percentage of

black population has significantlyincreased.

Arabic and French are the official languagesof Mauritania. French is regarded as asecond language and is primarily spoken bygovernment officials. The Moors speakvarious dialects of Hassianic Arabic andsome Berber. The black Fulbe and Toucouleurtribes speak in related dialects of Poulaar,while Soninke and Bambara are Mande languagesof the Niger-Congo family. The Woloflanguage is a combination of numerousdialects with many words borrowed fromArabic and French. The designation ofArabic as the language of instruction inprimary schools touched off bloody minorityriots in 1966. Since then the governmenthas announced the introduction of Poulaar,Soninke, and Wolof at the primary educationlevel by 1985. Mauritania has a literacyrate of 17%.

MAURITANIA

1.13 Religions

1.14 Geography

Location and Area:

Topography:


Virtually all Mauritanians, regardless ofethnic background, are Muslims of theMalikite sect. Islam, the official religionof the country, serves as one of the fewcohesive forces in the otherwise heterogenoussociety. There are two major religiousbrotherhoods, called tariqa or "ways": theQadiriya and the Tijaniya. Chinguetti, inthe district of Adrar, is the seventh holyplace of Islam.

Less than 1% of the population is RomanCatholic, under the jurisdiction of thebishop of Nouakchott.

Mauritania is located in northwest Africa andis bounded by Algeria, Western Sahara, Mali,Senegal, and the Atlantic Ocean. ItsAtlantic coastline stretches 666 km. It hasa total land area of 1,085,760 sq. km, appro-ximately four-fifths the size of Alaska. In1979, the government of Mauritania renouncedall territorial claims to the Tiris elGharbia province of Western Sahara, endingits war with the Algerian-backed PolisarioFront. The largest city is Nouakchott, nearthe Atlantic coast, which is the capital andMauritania's second most important port.The only permanent river is the SenegalRiver, which forms Mauritania's southwestborder.

Mauritania can be divided into four geo-graphic and climatic zones: the Saharan,the coastal, the Sahelian, and the SenegalRiver zone (the Chemama). The Saharan zonecomprises the northern two thirds of thecountry. This desolate desert is charac-terized by shifting sand dunes, mountainousplateaus, and scattered oases. The coastalzone, which receives the least rainfall ofany region, is practically devoid of vege-tation. (see map, p. 15)

6

MAURITANIA

Climate:


The Sahel is characterized by savanna grass-lands, palms, baobabs, and acacias. In thefar southern Sahel, rain is sufficent tosupport agriculture, and some millet, maize,and sorghum are grown. The chief agri-cultural area in the country is the Chemama,a narrow belt of land north of the SenegalRiver, where millet, sorghum, wheat, and ricecan be grown in the rich alluvial soil.

Rainfall in the Chemama zone is generally thehighest in the country, ranging from 300 to600 mm per year. During the rainy season,from May to September, tornadoes are a fre-quent occurrence. The Senegal River normallyfloods during the months of September andOctober. The mean maximum and minimumtemperatures for the year are 34.4C and23.3C respectively.

In the Sahel, precipitation varies from theminimum of 150 mm in the north to 350 mm inthe south. Daily variation in temperatureis between l5.6C and 21C.

The coastal zone has a humid but temperateclimate moderated by oceanic trade winds fromthe Canary Islands. Mauritania's two largestcities, Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, arelocated in the coastal zone. Temperaturesrange from 20C to 32C in October and 13Cto 26C in January. The coastal zoneaverages less than 25 mm of rain annually.

The Saharan zone receives 25 to 127 mm ofrain annually during the rainy season, fromJuly to September. During the winter,temperature variations may range from anearly morning low of OOC to a mid-afternoonhigh of 37.8 C. During the summer, tempera-tures range from l5.6C to more than 49C.The harmattan, the hot dry prevailing windfrom the east, causes blinding sandstorms inthe Sahara. (see Isohyetal Map, p. 18)

7

MAURITANIA

1.15 Population


Based on the last census (1976) and using anannual growth rate of 2%. the 1983 populationis estimated at 1.73 million. The averageannual birth rate is 50.2 per 1,000. Over80% of the people live in the Senegal Rivervalley and in the vicinity of Nouakchott.Mauritania is one of the few Islamiccountries where the number of females isroughly balanced with the size of the malepopulation. The most significant demographictrend in Mauritania has been the decrease inthe size of the nomadic population and thedramatic increase in the urban and sedentaryrural populations. Whereas Mauritania oncehad one of the largest nomadic populationsin the world, the prolonged droughts of thelast ten years combined with governmentpolicies have driven the nomads to congregatein squatter settlements around Nouakchott ormove into the agricultural areas in thesouth.

Population of Principal Towns(December 1976 census)

NouakchottNouadhibouKaediZoverateRossoAtar

134,98621,96120,84817,47416,46616,326

1.16 Health

Source: Europa, Africa South of the Sahara.1983-84.

Vital Statistics:(1982-83)

Births/I,OOO populationDeaths/I,OOO populationInfant mortality/l.OOO live birthsChild Death Rate (ages 1-4)/1,000Life Expectancy at Birth

FemalesMales

8

50.1822.3517032

4037

MAURITANIA

Nutrition

Diseases:

1.17 Economy


Millet, sorghum, and fonio (wild grassseed), form the staple diet of mostMauritanians. Millet is mixed with waterand ground to remove the husks to makecouscous, a thick paste that is usuallyeaten with pieces of mutton. Wheat is eatenas bread or in the form of a pancake. Thenomadic Moors also consume meat (mutton,goat, camel) and milk products, while thesedentary black farmers eat more cereals(wheat, fonio, rice) and vegetables (squash,corn, okra, sweet potatoes). Fish con-sumption has dramatically increased dueto the lack of meat caused by the drought.Locally grown fruits, such as dates, water-mellon, and tomatoes, are also a regular partof the diet. The per capita intake of foodper day is estimated at 1,867 calories, 63.2grams of fats and 303 grams of carbohydrates.

Contagious diseases (measles, meningitis,tuberculosis) are more prevalant in thenorthern arid regions, while malaria, guineaworm infection, schistosomiasis, diarrheal-eateritis are more common in the SenegalRiver zone. The recent droughts haveincreased the incidence of severe malnutri~tion, especially among preschool children.In March, 1983, 8.3% of the childrenmeasured were severely malnourished (80% ofNAS/NCHS reference weight for their height)and a total of 38% were moderate to severelymalnourished. Scurvy is common in almostall Mauritanians due to the deficiency ofVitamin C in the diet.

Economic Indicators

GNP per capita (1981)GDP Annual Growth rate (1978-83)GDP in $ US millions of dollars (1981)Average annual inflation rate (1970-81)Exports in $ US millions (1981)Imports in $ US millions (1981)Annual growth rate exports (1970-81)Annual growth rate imports (1970-81)

9

$4603.0%

$6309.0%

$259$265-0.3%

3.2%

MAURITANIA

Traditional Economy:

Modern Economy:


While 80% of all Mauritanians rely on sub-sistence agriculture and animal husbandry fortheir livelihood, the traditional sector ofthe economy accounts for only 26% of thetotal GDP. A majority of Mauritanians stilllive as nomadic herdsmen, raising cattle,goats, sheep, and camels in the Sahelian andSaharan regions. Livestock serves as asource of meat and milk to the local popula-tion, but a large percentage is exported tomarkets in neighboring countries. Despitethe devastating droughts and frequent live-stock epidemics, domesticated animals stilloutnumber the human population more thanfive to one. The only permanent farmland isfound in the Senegal River valley, wheremillet, sorghum and rice are grown. Therelatively small amount of permanent cropland(5,000 hectares) and the persistant droughtshave severely decreased food production, sothat almost all indigenous food crops go forfamily consumption and local distribution.Foodstuffs account for 25% of the country'simports. Gum arabic, grown in the southernsavanna regions, is Mauritania's only exportcrop.

Mining is the basis of the modern economy,comprising almost 80% of the export earningsand 30% of the total GDP. The state-runSociete Nationale Industrielle et Miniere(SNIM) extracts and exports iron ore fromthe Zouerate and Guelb mines, and gypsum fromN'Drahamcha Sebkha, north of Nouakchott.Copper deposits at Akjoujit were exhaustedin 1978. The government of Mauritania isproceeding with the development of the $450-million Guelb iron mining project, financedwith the help of foreign investment.

Despite Mauritania's vast reserves of highgrade iron are, the global economic recessionreduced the price and sale of iron ore on theworld market. Although the industrial sectorcontributes only 11% to the GDP, theMauritanian government is counting on large-scale industry to promote growth and develop-ment. An oil refinery, completed in 1977,was shut down by the government because ofthe lack of crude oil, overseas markets, and

10

MAURITANIA

Economic SectorsAgricultureMiningManufacturing.FishingPublic-Private sector

Balance of Payments:

External Debt:


trained personnel. A sugar refinery, alsobuilt in 1977, was closed after less than oneyear's operation because it cost more torefine imported raw sugar that to importalready refined sugar. The most successfulventure of the industrial sector has beenthe fish processing factories nearNouadhibou. The rich fishing grounds off thecoast are exploited primarily by foreignfishing companies, which must pay royaltieson their catch. Mauritania's maritime fish-ing industry is expanding its fleet, pro-cessing facilities, and exports. In 1981,earnings from fish exports increased morethan 100 percent. Another significantdevelopment in the modern economy has beenthe increasing reliance of the averageMauritanian family on earnings from relativesworking abroad or working for the governmentor the small iadustrialsector.

% of GDP % of labor force26% 80%30% 2.5%11% 2.5%21% 5%12% 10%

Mauritania currently maintains a balance ofpayments deficit, primarily due to itsdependence on imported food, fuel, andmanufactured products and the fluctuatingprice of its main export, iron ore. Theexport of iron in the late 1970s was severelyhurt by the disruption of rail transport byPolisario guerrillas during the WesternSahara conflict. Government restrictions onimported consumer goods and the expandingexport of fish have succeeded in narrowingthe trade gap since 1980. Mauritania'sprincipal trading partners are France,Senegal, and Spain.

Mauritania continues to depend heavily onforeign aid, and nearly two-thirds of itstotal spending is financed by foreignassistance. France is the largest source ofinternational assistance through Fonds d'Aideet de Cooperation (FAC) and Caisse Centralede Cooperation Economique (CCCE). Aid hasalso come from the European Development Fund

11

MAURITANIA

1.18 Communications

Radio:

Television:

Telecommunications:

Press:


(FED), the Kuwait Fund for Arab EconomicDevelopment. the C~nadian Development Agency,the World Bank, and the governments of SaudiArabia, China. and the Soviet Union. Most ofthis aid has gone toward financing develop-ment projects. such as the Guelb iron mine,the Nouakchott-Nema highway, the Nouakchottharbor, and the Gorgol dam and irrigationproject. United States Government assistancehas primarily come in the form of emergencyfood aid in times of drought and promotion ofagricultural development programs and ruralprimary health care services.

Radio Diffusion Nationale de la RepubliqueIslamique de Mauritanie is the officialbroadcasting organization, completely ownedand operated by the government. From itsstation in Nouakchott, it operates fourtransmitters, three of 100 kw, and broadcastsin French, Arabic, Wolof. Poulaar, andSarakole. In 1982, there were an estimated95,000 radio receivers throughout thecountry.

As of 1982, there was no regularly scheduledtelevision service originating in Mauritania,but the southern region does receive trans-missions from Dakar, Senegal. However, workon a television station, financed by Iran,was begun in 1981 and is expected to becompleted shortly.

At last estimate, there were only 5,000telephones in the entire country. Telephonecommunication within the country is generallyvery poor. although most local post officesmaintain telex and telephone service to someregional capitals and outside the country.

Mauritania's first daily newspaper, El Chaab,was founded in 1975. It is totally owned andcontrolled by the government and is publishedin both Arabic and French. AgenceMauritanienne de presse is the national newsagency, based in Nouakchott.

12

MAURITANIA

1.19 Transportation

Roads:

Rail:

Ports and Shipping:

Airports andAirlines:


Of the 8,900 km of roads in Mauritania, only1,514 km have been paved with asphalt. Apoorly maintained asphalt road connectsNouakchott with Akjoujt, a copper and ironore mining town. Another asphalted roadlinks Nouakchott to the border town of Rosso.Since there are no bridges crossing theSenegal River along the border, ferry servicemust be relied upon to transport vehiclesbetween Rosso and Senegal. The major trans-portation project has been the constructionof the Trans-Mauritania Highway, linkingNouakchott to the town of Nema in the east.This highway is being built by MENDES, aBrazilian firm, and is scheduled to becompleted by 1984. Most of the other townsare connected by dirt roads or desert tracks.

A 652-km railroad connects the iron mines atF'Derik and Tazadit to the port ofNouadhibou. The diesel-powered trains pri-marily transport iron ore to the port. Therailway is owned by the Mauritanian NationalRailway (SNTFM) and operated by the SocieteNationale Industriale et Miniere (SNIM)

Mauritania is served by three ports: a largeport at Nouadhibou, a wharf at Nouakchott,and the port in Dakar, Senegal. TheNouadhibou harbor handles iron ore shipping,fishing industry vessels, and petroleumimports. The wharf at Nouakchott handlesmainly food import traffic, commercialfishing craft, and some copper ore exports.The People's Republic of China is prOVidingthe funds and technical assistance to con-struct a deep water port at Nouakchott whichis expected to be operational in 1986. Muchof Mauritania's commerce still comes by wayof the port at Dakar and from there by roadand ferry to Rosso.

The limited ground transportation system andthe dispersed population make air transportthe most viable transportation system inMauritania. There are 30 usable airfields,of which nine have permanent surface runways.The largest airport is in Nouadhibou (which

13

MAURITANIA 1. General Information

has a 2,500 meter runway), followed byNouakchott and Atar. Air Mauritania operatesa fleet of propeller-driven aircraft fortransporting passengers and cargo to variousremote locales in the country. It also pro-vides daily flights to Dakar, Senegal, LasPalmas, Canary Islands, and Paris; France.Mauritania is also served by the followingairlines: Air Afrique, Iberia, Union desTransports Aeriens (UTA), Aeroflot, SyrianArab Airways, Tunis Air, Air Senegal, RoyalAir Maroc, and Air Canada.

14

CLIMATIC AND GEOGRAPHIC MAP OF MAURITJu~IA

EL DJOUF

~ SAHEL

D SAHARAOTIIJ CHEMAMA

~ COASTAL15

MAURITANIA

2. Disaster Vulnerability

2.1 Overview of the Physical Environment


Mauritania's delicate ecological balance hinges on the area's sparse 0and sporadic rainfall. The seasonal rainfall distribution is governed bythe movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a band of moistair that flucuates between the equator and 15 0 to 20 0 N. The typicallyirregular migration of the ITCZ accounts for the extreme variability ofprecipitation in frequency, duration, and distribution. Average annualrainfall amounts vary from 650 mm per year at Selibaby, on the SenegalRiver to less than 25 mm per year at Nouadhibou, on the northern coast.The rainy season, called the hivernage, normally lasts from May to Octoberin the Chemama zone, but in the Sahel it does not start until mid-July.When the rains do come to Mauritania, they often take the form of intenserainstorms, caused by the collision of moist southwesterly winds with thedry harmattan from the east. These storm showers cause soil erosion andcan damage crops.

The Senegal River is the only nonseasonal watercourse in Mauritania.The river is formed at a confluence in western Mali and flows northwest-ward, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean just north of Port Louis, Senegal.The riverflow at Bakel, where the water crests, normally averages about780 m3 /s (cubic meters ~er second), but during drought years it hasdropped as low as 264 m Is. During the rainy season, the river floodsthe alluvial plain, filling up wadis (dry riverbeds) and marigots(drainage lakes) and replenishing marginal vegetation. The water in thedelta, from the mouth of the Atlantic to Rosso, is generally too salineto be used for irrigating crops. The aquifers beneath the Senegal Riverbasin supply most of the water needs of the northern population centers.Deep dug wells, rainwater catchments, and scattered oases furnish waterto the nomadic herdsman in the desert.

Over fifty percent of the Mauritanian landscape is covered by sanddunes. The entire northeastern region, known as El Djouf, is a vast,desolate desert of shifting sand dunes. In the center of the country,the Adrar and Tagant plateaus form an extensive plain, strewn withpebbles and boulders and studded with mesa-like outcroppings. The Hodhdepression, in the southeastern corner, consists of sand dunes, sandstoneescarpments and gravel plains. In the Sahara, the sun-baked sand retainsvery little groundwater and accelerates the evaporation of any rainfall.Further south, the soil is a mixture of sand, clay, and silt, which cansupport only marginal vegetation.

The hot, arid climate in the coastal and Saharan zones permits littlevegetation growth, except for dry scrub grasses and date palms growingnear oases. Farther south in the Sahel, sand dunes gradually give way tosavanna grasslands, spotted with palms, acacias, and the ocassional baobabtree. Forests of acacia senegal, a source of gum arabic, grow in the

16

MAURITANIA 2. Disaster Vulnerability

southern Sahel region. Millet, maize, rice, and lush grasses grow in thealluvial plains along the Senegal River. Among the wildlife found inMauritania are gazelles, antelopes, cheetahs, jackals, warthogs,elephants, ostriches, and crocodiles. Hunting and drought havesignificantly reduced the wildlife population in recent years, causingthe authorities to introduce some conservation measures.

2.2 Drought

Chronic drought has always been Mauritania's most persistant naturalhazard and has acted as a major obstacle to the country's development.Periodic drought cycles are characteristic of the entire Sahel, but nopredictable pattern of frequency, duration, or location is discernable.Periods of subnormal rainfall have occurred at the turn of the century,in 1913-14, and in the early 1940's. The 1968-73 drought had a devasta-ting impact on the entire Sahel, drastically reducing crop yields,decimating livestock herds, and affecting the entire population. After abrief three year respite of sufficient rainfall, Mauritania was once moreinflicted by drought in 1977. The following chart shows the extent ofthe drought between 1968 and 1983.

Precipitation at Selected Stations

Mean annual rain:

Selibaby

613 rom

Kaedi

375 rom

Nema

288 rom

Nouakchott

127 mm

Atar

91 mm

Percentage ofannual mean:

1968 70% 41% 78% 40% 62%1969 86 77 76 117 741970 67 71 66 37 331971 91 76 78 12 61972 37 31 74 57 311973 76 62 80 72 371974 68 112 65 22 261975 105 85 114 124 861976 53 64 53 42 1221977 61 62 35 2 41978 89 53 120 25 1061979 49 52 70 58- 1121980 71 81 65 30 881981 65 90 741982 68 63 117 22 231983 63 52 13 6 7

Source: Rapports Pluviometriques du Project PNUD/OMM/Agrhymet et AnalysesStatistiques par Ie Bureau de Pqm de Nouakchott as cited inMauritania Emergency Action Plan.

17

MAURITANIAN ISOHYET MAP

Annual Mean Rainfall

200mm250mm

300mm

350mm400mm

150mm

100mm

.~

\somm

---- -- ,.,.- ....---~''''''' -.... --- --_ .... -- ~

- ------

..\

II1I

,"

//

I

Bir Moghreino-- .... .......

'\,

----...~ .......

F'deriko

/Atarc

,,-,,-

/

/I

,.

/

/I

II

/I

/

I

/,/

.-"

/./,.-

./....

'..". ~ -.... '.\

/' " "/ " .......,/ T~..1. kd ......../ .... ....... 1uj.1 Ja .......

.."" '-0 ........"". --

"~..,,,/ --- --- ~---_ ..... ------.,.., / ,..,.. ---.--., ---.../,."",.' -------. -..._----------

~ ~ ...,.--- --- .....---- ~ ~~...- '""'-. ...... ---. -- ------------_ .... 1U.eg --.._...... .".,,-'" & .,--------...-,. ------Rossp........ Kiffa - _ _ - -N'em.a-- - -

----.. 0 --...... a~~ ----

Source: RAMS Study, Rain-fed Agriculture, 1980

18

MAURITANIA

2.3 Desertification


As Mauritania developed. the encroachment of the Sahara into theSahelian zone accelerated. turning the once marginal environment into abarren wasteland. It has been estimated that desertification ofMauritania's Sahelian zone is progressing at a rate of approximately twokilometers per year. Desertification is not a direct result of drought;but rather a result of ecological mismangement. brought about when thepopulation is forced onto marginal lands by prolonged drought. Forexample. the northward extension of farming to the marginal land in thesouthern Sahel has destroyed fragile vegetation which had served toprevent soil erosion.

Another cause of desertification is overgrazing. During the 1960's.immunization of livestock and years of sufficient rainfall led to anincrease in the domestic animal population. straining the natural carryingcapacity of the pastureland. During the subsequent drought, foraginglivestock moved south in search of fodder and stripped the land of itsvegetation. Another contributing factor to desertification is the indis-criminate digging of wells. This has depleted the freshwater aquifer anddrained oases and hand-dug wells. Desertification has been accompaniedby deforestation. which has been caused by foraging livestock. insectinfestations, range fires, and overexploitation of gum acacia trees.

2.4 Malnutrition and Disease

As a result of the nationwide drought and resulting drop in food pro-duction. widespread malnutrition and disease have been reported throughoutMauritania. In the fall of 1983, an AID-sponsored nutritional survey ofthe Tagant region (population 70.000) found that 18.2% of the childrenbetween 6 months and five years of age suffered from acute undernutrition(based on the less than 80 percent weight-for-height scale). A nutri-tional surveillance team from the Center for Disease Control alsoconducted a nutritional survey of the Adrar region (population 55,000)and reported that 14% of all preschool children in the region sufferedfrom acute undernutrition, as well as severe diarrhea, anemia, andvitamin A deficiency. The same survey concluded that the per capitacaloric intakes for the Tagant and Adrar regions were 1,523 and 1,700calories per day. respectively. Other nutritional assessments indicatethat between 40% and 70% of chi~dren under five years of age haveexperienced some degree of moderate to severe malnutrition-.

Infant and childhood mortality rates in Mauritania are among thehighest in the world (170 - 190 per 1,000). Malnutrition increases thelikelihood that children will die from measles. diarrheal gastro-enteritis. respiratory infections, and parasitic diseases. Althoughmorbidity statistics are extremely difficult to obtain due to thepopulation's limited access to health care facilities. outbreaks ofmalaria, red measles, meningitis, cholera, and pulmonary tuberculosis

19


affect a high percentage of the population. Contagious and infectiousdiseases are especially rampant in the overcrowded refugee camps aroundNouakchott. Waterborne diseases such as malaria, schistosomiasis andguinea worm infection are endemic to the Senegal River zone, while upperrespiratory diseases are more preva1ant in northern arid region.

2.5 Disaster History

Disaster Location

Drought Sahel &Nouakchott

Drought Nationwide

Drought Nationwide

Drought Nationwide

Date No. Killed

1965 NA

1968-1970 NA

1971-73 NA

1978 NA

No. Affected

46,000

1,025,000

1,300,000

1,420,000

Drought/ SahelLivestock Disaster

Rabies Epidemic Guidimakaregion

1979

1982

NA

32 animals

27,000

3,255livestock

MeningitisEpidemic

Guidimaka, 1982Hodh and Trarzaregions

5 children 363,000

Drought/Food Shortage

Sahel 1983 NA 350,000

NA - not available.

Source: Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, Disaster History.

2.6 Vulnerability of Agriculture

Due to the harsh climate and the small amount of arable land,Mauritania's agricultural sector is not able to produce enough food forits population. Even during years of normal rainfall, Mauritania harvestsonly half of its annual food needs and must rely on foreign imports forthe rest. In general, the minimum amount of rainfall required to supporta rain-fed crop is 350 mm per year. During the drought years of 1972,1977, and 1983, the total annual precipitation measured at various

20


stations in Mauritania's rain-fed agricultural zone fell below 300 mm.Between 1969 and 1973, the total amount of arable land decreased from272,000 hectares to 187,000 hectares and cereal production fell from93,000 to 41,000 tons.

The .distribution of rainfall determines where Mauritania's principalcrops can be grown. Rice is grown in the rich alluvial soil along thebanks of the Senegal River and has become a staple of the Mauritaniandiet. The planting of rice usually takes place after the start of therainy season in May and harvesting begins in October or November, afterthe floodwaters have receded. In the Chemama and southern Sahel zones,rainfall is sufficient to support the cultivation of millet and sorghum.The planting season is from May to July and the crops are harvested inOctober. Where rainfall is insufficient, millet, sorghum, and maize areirrigated with water from seasonal wadis, man-made earthen dams, and deepwells. Date palms are able to grow at oases throughout the desert.Mauritanian farmers continue to plant and harvest their crops by hand anddo not use pesticides or fertilizers, except for animal manure.

Recent droughts have also had a devastating impact on Mauritania'slivestock production and nomadic population. During the 1960s, theintroduction of livestock immunization programs resulted in a dramaticincrease in the domestic animal population. Between 1969 and 1974, thecombination of drought, overgrazing, and range fires rapidly depleted thenatural forage, and thousands of cattle, sheep, and goats died of starva-tion or disease. Approximately 30% of the livestock population perishedand a substantial proportion was sold to prevent further losses. Thedrought has also caused livestock to become more susceptible to diseaseand in 1982 an outbreak of rabies infected the Zebu cattle herds in theGuidimaka region of south-central Mauritania. The prolonged drought hascaused a massive transhumance to the south, intensifying the competitionbetween nomadic herdsmen and the sedentary farmers over the dwindlingsupply of water resources and land.

Estimated Livestock Population (000 head) 1969-1981

Year Cattle Sheep/Goats Camels1969 2,000 7,000 7201970 1,920 6,750 7101971 1,550 6,500 7051972 1,500 6,600 7001973 1,115 6,000 6701974 1,150 6,300 68~1975 1,300 7,000 7001976 1,400 7,500 7001977 1,550 7,209 7211978 1,700 7,512 728

21


Estimated Livestock Population (000 head) 1969-1981 (con't)

Year Cattle Sheep/Goats Camels

1979 1,186 7,450 7281980 1,200 7,800 7401981 1,200 7,800 742

Source: FAO, Production Yearbook, 1982 and RAMS LivestockSector Survey

2.7 Vulnerability of Infrastructure

The recent droughts have forced thousands of farmers and nomads tomigrate to the urban centers in the south. This mass migration has placedan overwhelming strain on Mauritania's economy and infrastructure.Displaced farmers and nomads who lost their sources of livelihood duringthe drought have congregated in squatter settlements outside the townswhere food and water are distributed by the government and internationalvoluntary organizations. Most are unable to find work in the moderneconomy and live in tents and makeshift shelters on the outskiFts ofNouakchott. These squatter settlements are characterized by overcrowding,squalid living conditions, and poor sanitation and water facilities. InNouakchott, most of the population depends for its water supply on 33public fountains scattered throughout the city. The city's water-bornesewage disposal system serves major commercial establishments, publicbuildings, embassies, and approximately 7,000 private residences. In thesquatter settlements outside the city, pit latrines are relied upon forhuman waste disposal. The lack of potable water and proper sanitationfacilities contributes to the rampant transmission of parasitic diseasesin the capital.

22

IBRD 14311MAY 18N

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF MAURITANIAj

16

300

200

100

20

MAL I

24

,.., ..........- .."...-....., .."........-.et". ",..... --.,. -....."""'~I_ ............_--- ...--.........._~.,................ .""... ..,..-,-.. .. - fI .,..,-...,. ...........-..-.eI...- ..........

".

A lM

'. ';::~:.

o

...:.. - .. '

......~'..:'-".

o~

t (,------------(j-~--------------,

MOudjeriO......-." ",\\\.~ ~0.:;,,' " '~ II*/1 c. ,~

_-:::lC"1.1,,--_ .

SENEGAL

'fl'

RailroadS

International Boundariel

...In.....

........11 R.infall in Mllli_

P_ RGIdI

_ RGldlundorC_ion

G RGIdI

T' ..

Nouadnibou

: ....

*-100-

;"~

/DAKAR */

~-\

\..,

zO"

j

i. j

I

~e--I,on

O... PaIms

Fi"'ir"

-...GRICUlTlJR"'l ZONES" 1 1

MAURITANIA 3. Disaster Preparedness and Assistance

3.1 Host Country Disaster Plan and Organization

In November of 1983, the Government of the Islamic Republic ofMauritania (GIRM) adopted and published its firstnational emergencyaction plan to cope with the 1983 food shortage and health crisis and tomitigate the environmental effects of droughts and desertification.President Haidalla chaired the national disaster planning sessions,attended by all cabinet ministers, regional governors, and militarydistrict commanders and launched an international appeal for donations toa national fund for the drought relief effort. Detailed reports wereprepared for each drought-affected area, outlining the current situationin each district, estimated food requirements, the GIRM financial, human,and logistical resources available, and specific needs for outsideassistance.

The Plan d'Action d'Urgence (Emergency Action Plan) calls for theestablishment of a National Committee for Assistance to People Affectedby the Drought (CNAPES), comprised of officials from the MilitaryCommittee for National Salvation (CMSN), Commissariat for Food Security(CSA), the Red Crescent, and the Ministries of Health and Labor, RuralDevelopment, Water and Energy, and the Interior. CNAPES is to coordinatethe implementation of the plan at the national level and to appoint atechnical commission to propose appropriate solutions to problems createdby the drought. A regional committee was also established to coordinatedisaster relief and implement the plan at the regional level. Regionalauthorities are to encourage isolated nomadic groups to resettle closerto distribution sites or routes. A political movement called "LesStructure d'Education des Masses" was initiated to educate the populationabout proper water and land management practices and preventive healthcare measures.

The seventy-five page document begins with an assessment of the 1983drought situation, including statistical tables detailing rainfallmeasurements, crop yields, and reported incidence of malnutrition andvarious diseases. The plan outlines proposed courses of action in fivesectors affected by the drought: agriculture, livestock and pasturage,water resources, food, and health.

Courses of Action

1. Agriculture

1. Preserve and better utilize rema1n1ng arable land (5,000hectares) to increase crop yields.

2. Promote modern agronomic techniques in dryland cultivation,recessional agriculture, and vegetable gardening.

3. Equip agricultural protection teams with land rovers, fuel,seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides.

24


2. Livestock and Pasture Protection

1. Vaccinate cattle, sheep, goats, and camels against livestockdiseases and nutritional deficiencies.

2. Ensure supply of fodder to livestock and transport threatenedherds to regions with available pasture.

3. Educate herdsmen and farmers to adopt better ecological manage-ment practices to prevent desertification.

3. Water Resource Management

1. Equip nine well-building brigades with land rovers, pneumaticdrills, explosives, pumps, etc.

2. Refurbish 24 existing wells along the east-west highway for humanconsumption, livestock use, and gardening purposes.

3. Open new wells to provide water for livestock herds in Gorgol,Guidimaka, and the southern portions of East and West Hodh.

4. Food Security

1. Encourage the consumption of dried fish among rural populations.2. Coordinate the delivery of foreign food donations to arrive well

"in advance of May, when rains make dirt roads in the southimpassable.

3. Distribute free food to the indigent.4. Acquire and mobilize logistical support for delivering emergency

food and services.

5. Health

1. Increase nutritional and medical surveillance of vulnerablegroups (i.e. children, pregnant women, the elderly).

2. Educate the population on proper health and sanitation measuresto prevent the spread of disease.

3. Equip mobile medical teams with sufficient drugs, supplies, andmeans of transport to access isolated vulnerable groups.

The Emergency Action Plan is the first concerted governmentalstrategy to alleviate the disasterous effects of the recurrent droughtsthat have plagued the country for so many years. However, the budget forimplementing the plan is way beyond the means of the national economy andthe GIRM will have to get much of its financial and technical supportfrom foreign donors.

Mauritania belongs to two regional organizations actively involvedin drought mitigation projects. The Organization for the Development ofthe Senegal River (OMVS) was formed in 1971 by Mauritania, Mali, andSenegal to construct two dams, one at Diama (on the Senegal river delta)and one at Manantali (Mali); modernize road, rail, and river transportsystems; and to develop irrigation projects in all three countries. The

25


Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS)was formed in 1973 and is comprised of the member states of Mauritania,Mali, Niger, Senegal, Chad, Cape Verde, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, andUpper Volta. CILSS takes a comprehensive regional approach in its droughtmitigation and development projects to achieve the goal of regional self-sufficiency in agricultural production. A more detailed discussion ofthe drought mitigation projects is included in Section 3.12, Mitigationand the Development Process.

3.2 Mauritania Red Crescent

Mauritania's Emergency Action Plan designates the national RedCrescent Society as the primary private voluntary organization responsiblefor disaster relief and distribution of supplementary food to especiallyvulnerable sectors of society: pregnant women, children, and the elderly.Food (butter oil, milk powder, dried meat, dried fish, rice), blankets,and clothing are distributed through 56 local branches and 11 socialcenters. The Society has also- carried out projects in primary healthcare, truck farming, reforestation, community development, and trainingof first aid workers at the village level. The Mauritanian Red CrescentSociety is a member of the League of Red Cross/Crescent Societies andreceives most of its donations and commodities from the LeagueDevelopment Programme and the European Economic Community.

Croissant Rouge MauritanienAvenue NasserNouakchott, RIMTel. 526-70

3.3 Early Warning Systems

Mauritania belongs to the AGRHYMET network, the CILSS regionalmeteorological service which shares climatic and hydrological data tofacilitate short- and long-term agricultural and livestock productionplanning in the Sahel. AGRHYMET began operation in 1975, with funds andtechnical assistance provided by the World Meteorological Organization(WMO) ,the United Nations Development Programme, and the governments ofthe United States, the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany,Belgium, Switzerland, and France. AGRHYMET maintains a regionalcoordinating and training facility in Niamey, Niger and has offices ineach CILSS country. Mauritania's AGRHYMET office is located inNouakchott, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rural Development,and is staffed with a project director, three agrometeorologists, andtwelve technicians. Mauritania's Meteorological Service, attached to theMinistry of Transportation and Equipment, collects meteorological data(i.e., rainfall measurements) from climatic monitoring stations locatedin each of ,the twelve districts. This information is relayed to AGRHYMET

26


in Nouakchott, where it is evaluated and summarized and then telexed tothe AGRHYMET Center in Niamey, WMO, and the Food and AgriculturalOrganization (FAO). It takes 5 to 6 days for a 10-day increment rainfallreport to be received by these organizations. AGRHYMET also makes use ofsatellite imagery data from METEOSAT, the European MeteorologicalSatellite, to examine the spatial distribution of precipitation and chartthe progress of desertification. The National Center for AgronomicResearch and Agricultural Development in Kaedi was recently established,but it is understaffed and lacks adequate resources.

An early warning agroc1imatic assessment project of sub-SaharanAfrican countries is currently being conducted by the Climatic ImpactAssessment Division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA/ClAD), under the sponsorship of the Office of U.S. Foreign DisasterAssistance. Using meteorological and agricultural information derivedfrom LANDSAT satellite imagery, crop yield statistics and WMO collectedprecipitation measurements, NOAA issues monthly climate impact assessmentreports and crop productivity analyses. In February 1984, a NOAA agro-meteorologist briefed Mauritanian government officials on satellitemeteorological applications and drought-monitoring and early warningtechniques.

3.4 Health Care Facilities and Resources

The Ministry of Health estimates that only 30% of the population ofMauritania is covered by its services and that two-thirds of those coveredlive in urban areas. The health care infrastructure is comprised of onenational hospital, twelve regional hospitals, and a number of healthclinics, dispensaries, maternal and child health (MCH) centers, andmobile medical units located throughout the country. However, all ofthese health care institutions lack trained personnel, medical equipment,drugs, and adequate patient facilities. The largest medical facility isthe National Hospital in Nouakchott, built and equipped by the EuropeanDevelopment Fund in 1966. It has a clinical laboratory, intensive careand maternity units, an X-ray room, emergency room, and approximately 500hospital beds. However, the hospital is hampered by inadequately steri-lized and maintained equipment and unsanitary conditions in most of thewards. The hospital medical team is comprised of Mauritanian, French,Egyptian, and Chinese physicians. As of 1983, there were approximately100 physicians in the entire country and one government nurse for every5,000 people.

27


Distribution of Population, Health Personnel andHealth Facilities by Region, 1980

Region Population Personnel Facilities

'000 % No. % No. %Nouakchott 173 12.1 792 46.5 19 975East Hodh 166 11.6 88 5.2 24 11.9West Hodh 130 2.0 59 3.5 13 6.5As saba 136 9.4 81 4.8 15 7.5Gorgol 158 11.0 147 8.6 25 12.3Brakna 159 11.0 109 6.4 21 10.5Trarza 224 15.6 139 8.1 26 12.8Adrar 50 3.6 60 3.5 11 5.5Nouadhibou 30 2.1 35 2.0 7 3.5Tagant 78 5.4 33 1.9 12 6.0Guidimaka 90 6.3 96 5.6 19 9.5Tiris Zermnour 26 1.8 24 1.4 4 2.0Inchiri 17 1.2 42 2.5 5 1.5

TOTAL 1,443 100 1,705 100 201 100

Source: GIRM Ministry of Health

There are no professional medical schools In Mauritania, but theNational School of Nurses and Midwives was established in 1966 to trainauxiliary medical personnel. The school has trained and graduatedgovernment-registered nurses, auxiliary nurses, midwives, and paramedicaltechnicians. However, the school is understaffed, poorly equipped, andlacks an emphasis on preventive health care.

The National Health Center was built and equipped by a grant fromthe People's Republic of China and was established to study problemsrelating to the prevention of disease and develop public informationprograms to halt the spread of disease in Mauritania. The Center wasbuilt in 1977 and is composed of a professional team of Chinese andMauritanian medical specialists involved in epidemiological research,mass immunization programs t and nutritional surveillance.

A nationwide expanded immunization program is currently being con-ducted by 11 mobile medical teams and 26 maternal/child health (MCH)centers and is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development tUNICEF t and WHO. The goal is to vaccinate 60% of all children aged 0-5years against diphtheria, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, tetanus, andmeasles. Despite the Widely dispersed population t lack of healthpersonnel, inadequate medical supplies t and poor record keeping t theincidence of measles and pertussis has been notably reduced. A largecentral vaccine storage warehouse is located in Nouakchott.

28


Two government agencies, Pharmarim and Pharmappro are responsiblefor the distribution of drugs and medical supplies, all of which have tobe imported. Pharmarim maintains four pharmacies in Nouakchott andbranches in each regional capital, while Pharmappro distributes drugs to132 dispensaries scattered throughout the country. However, bureaucraticbottlenecks, inadequate financial management, and lack of inventoryaccounting make the delivery of drugs and supplies outside of Nouakchottslow and unreliable.

Number of Hospital Beds in Mauritania (1980) and Planned for 1985

1980No. %

NouakchottCentral HospitalGeneral HospitalAnti-Tubercu1or HospitalPsychiatric HospitalHealth CentersMother & Child Centers

Subtotal

500

40

540

1985No. %

54%50 10%70 15%50 10%40 8%

4%

58% 210 43%

Total

5005070504040

750

Regional Health FacilitiesRegional HospitalsHealth CentersMother & Child Centers

Subtotal

Grand Total

398

398

938

42%

42%

100%

1748120

275

485

36%17%

4%

57%

100%

5728120

673

1423

Source: Preliminary Health Plan (1981-1985), GIRM, Ministry ofHealth.

3.5 Food Resources and Storage

It is estimated that Mauritania's total annual cereal requirementsare between 220 and 255,000 tons. Since local cereal production hasaveraged less than 48,000 tons per year during the drought, theMauritanian government must make up the difference with foreign fooddonations and subsidized grain imports. The Commissariat for FoodSecurity (CSA) is the government agency responsible for coordinating theannual appeal for food aid and marketing all food in grain price andsupply stabilization projects. CSA distributes 60,000 to 80,000 tons ofdonated wheat and sorghum each year, a percentage of which is given awayfree to the indigent or in return for labor. CSA stockpiles 10,000 MTfor the government's grain security stock. SONIMEX, a government run

29


trade monopoly. imports and sells between 60.000 and 80.000 tons of riceeach year. The private sector purchases only a small percentage of totalcereal imports. but markets nearly all the milk. oil. and flour sold inthe country. Food shipments must be received before May. because manyareas in southern Mauritania are not accessible by road during the rainyseason.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) administers the U.S. Government'sP.L. 480 Title II Food program in Mauritania. In 1983. this program wasbudgeted at $10 million to purchase 4.708 metric tons of foodstuffs. CRSmaintains central commodity warehouses in Nouakchott and Kaedi and handlesthe transportation of commodities to outlying distribution centers.P.L. 480 Title II Food commodities for Mauritania include soy-fortifiedsorghum grits. non-fat dehydrated milk. and vegetable oil.

Grain storage capacity has more than doubled in recent years.because of a CILSS project financed with contributions from the AfricanDevelopment Bank and the United Nations Sahelian Office. During the dryseason. food can be stored on open air sites which only require fencingand tarps with proper ventilation and fumigation.

Food Security Commissariat (CSA) Storage Facilities

SiteNouakchottNouadhibouRossoBoutilimitAkjoujtAtar

ZaoerateMoudjeriaTidjikja

AlegBoghe

Maghta LahjarKaediMaghamaSelibaryauld YengeKiffaAiounNemaTimbedra

TOTAL

MT Warehouse16.000

1.5004,600

500

1,300

8001,300

800

800

1,000

800800800

31,000

MT Open Air19.000

5,000

24,000

Other*7.5002,000

1,0001,0001,0001,0002,0001.0004,0001,0006,0001,0002,000

1,0003,0002,0002,0001,000

40,000

Total42.500

3.5009.600

5001,0002.3001.0001.0002.8002.3004,8001,0006,8001,0003.0001.0003,8002,8002,8001.000

95,000

* In Nouakchott - 500 MT portable silos; all other cities -warehouses under construction, ready in 1984

Source: U.S. Mission Disaster Relief Plan, 1983.

30

MAURITANIA

3.6 Housing

3. Disaster Preparedness and Assistance

Urban migration has created a severe housing shortage in the south,especially in the capital, Nouakchott. At the time of the last census in1977, Nouakchott had a population of 134,986 inhabitants and has beengrowing at an average annual rate of 23.3% since 1961. The projectedpopulation figure for 1984 is approximately 146,000. Planned in 1957,the capital can now be divided into five arrondissements, with roughly onehalf of the city's population living in squatter settlements that havesprung up around the periphery. These migrants live in tents or baraques,crude shacks built of wood and scrap metal, and have virtually no accessto such basic urban services as potable water and adequate waste disposal.In 1975, the district government distributed for free approximately 7,000lots to squatter families, but many sold the land and moved back intotemporary shelters. Construction of permanent dwellings on the outskirtsof the city is prohibited by the government. This prevents these squattersettlements from becoming permanently integrated into the city.

Squatter settlements have also sprung up alongside the Trans-Mauritanian Highway and in the towns near the Senegal River. Most nomadsstill live in tents, made of wool or cotton canvas by Moorish women.Extended nomadic families of 5 or 6 persons normally occupy one tent. Inthe squatter settlements, migrants have begun building more durableshelters of scrap wood and metal. Another type of temporary dwellingfound in Mauritania is the banco hut, made of sunbaked mud brick withflat or thatch roofs. This type of house is found mostly in the southernriver valley towns and is preferred by the rural black tribes. There isa severe shortage of modern, multiroom, concrete block residential units,due to the lack of skilled construction labor and the high cost ofimported building materials.

In 1974, the Mauritanian government established SOCOGIM (Societe deConstruction et de Gestion Immobiliere) to address the need for low andmiddle income housing. However, the limited number of housing units thathave been constructed have proved affordable only to upper income groupsdue to tremendous cost overruns and poor financial management. SOCOGIMhas retained the services of ADAUA, a Swiss housing consulting firm todesign and implement a self-help housing project in the Satara squatterarea of Rosso.

3.7 Road Network and Infrastructure

Mauritania's road network is primarily used by commercial traffictransporting imported foodstuffs and commodities to Nouakchott andoutlying towns. A major supply route 1s the paved road between Nouakchottand Rosso, a border town on the Senegal River. The ferry at Rosso is theonly means of transporting trucks carrying imports from Dakar across theriver. Of the nearly 9,000 km of roads in Mauritania, only 1,500 km arepaved with asphalt. Desert tracks that connect many remote towns are

31


generally too sandy to support heavy motor vehicles. Windstorms and rainyseason flooding can disrupt traffic on dirt roads. The major transporta-tion project has been construction of the Trans-Mauritania highwaYtstarting in Nouakchott and extending east through the towns of Boutilimit tAleg t Kiffa t and Nema. Except for a recently completed road from Aleg toBoghe t there are no paved access routes to the agriculturally productiveand densely populated towns in the Senegal River Valley.

Road Network

1. Asphalted Roads

..

National RoadsNouakchott-RossoNouakchott-AkjoujtNouakchott-BoutilimitBoutilimit-AlegSangarafa-KiffaKiffa-Aioun EL AtroussNouakchott wharf

Subtotal

Unclassified Roads

Nouadhibou-Point CentralNouakchott-Beach

Subtotal

Grand Total Asphalted Roads

2. Improved Earth Roads

Akjout-AtarAtar-ChoumBoghe-KaediKaedi-Kfffa

3. Tracks

Atar-Algerian border .Rosso-BogheAioun-NemaSangarafa-MoudjeriaMoudjeria-TidjikjaTidjikja-KiffaM'Bout-SeilbabyAioun-Mali borderNema-Mali border

RouteRN2RN 1RN3RN3RN 3RN 2RN2

RouteRNIRNIRN2RN2

RouteRNIRN2RN2RNRN4RN4RN5RN6RN7

Length (km)204256154109344210

6

1,283

34

121561

lt 344

Length (km)180120100305

Length (km)It 215

200295

60130240165150150

Source: U.S. Mission Disaster Relief Plant 1983.

32


Maintenance of the road network is the responsibility of the Ministryof Construction. Due to the lack of trained personnel and the poorquality of maintenance equipment, many portions of paved road aredeterioriating faster than they can be repaired. MENDES, a Brazilianfirm, was contracted to complete construction of the Trans-MauritanianHighway, between Kiffa and Nema.

Private trucking firms deliver most imported goods and foodstuffs totowns throughout Mauritania. Among these firms, the largest are AbdelahiOuld Noueghet, Ets Sakaly Freres, Mohammed Ould Nebou,and Dr Ba BocarAlpha Transporteur. Mauritanian and Senegalese trucking firms transportfresh fruits, vegetables, and refrigerated fish to outlying areas. TheCommissariat for Food Security maintains a vehicle fleet of 10- to 30-toncapacity terrain trucks and land rovers, which are used for transportingemergency supplies and foodstuffs to remote areas of the country. SONADER(National Organization for Rural Development) operates a vehicle fleet,repair station, maintenance service, and several motor boats for use onthe Senegal River and seasonal streams.

3.8 Ports and Port Facilities

Three ports handle shipping for Mauritania: the two harbors atNouadhibou and Nouakchott and the port at Dakar, Senegal. The harbor atNouadhibou (Lat. 20 54'N; Long 17 03'W) was enlarged and modernized in1977. It contains one large quay (22 m Wide) with two berths (length128 m and 108 m), connected to the coast by a 150-meter jetty. The depthof the channel is eight meters at high tide. It has an open air storagecapacity of 30,000 sq. m and a warehouse capacity of 3,500 sq. m. Thereare also many fish-processing factories with refrigerated storage facili-ties located near the port. Mauritania's only railroad connects the portwith the iron-mining towns of Zouerate and F'Derik. Since there is nopaved road between Nouadhibou and the capital, imported goods are oftenoffloaded at Nouadhibou and then reshipped to Nouakchott.

The Nouakchott wharf (Lat. 18 02'N; Long. 16 02'W) is locatedabout 7 km SSW of the capital. The wharf is a steel pier perpendicularto the coastline, with an access jetty about 250 meters long. There arethree berths available for unloading general cargo, one exclusively forunloading bulk cement. Quay depth of water varies between 7 and 8.5meters. Many small fishing boats and commercial craft operate out ofNouakchott. There is no natural protection of the harbor from sea swellsor summer squalls. Ships with over 5,000 tons carrying capacity must beunloaded by tugs and barges. Cargo-handling equipment and water facili-ties at the docks are in very poor condition. The Peoples Republic ofChina is constructing a deep water port in place of the wharf, but it isnot expected to be operational until 1986.

33


A large proportion of Mauritania's imports come by way of the portat Dakar, Senegal (Lat. 14 40 r N; Long. 17 24'W) and from there aretransported by trucks to the ferry at Rosso. The Mauritanian governmentis trying to enlarge and modernize the harbors at Nouadhibou andNouakchott in order to reduce the reliance on the Dakar port. Thewharfage (9,150 meters of berthing space) and entrance water depth (9 to11 meters) can accommodate large oceangoing cargo vessels and the port isequipped with modern cargo-handling equipment. Lighterage, cranes, beltconveyors, and stevedores are available for loading and unloading cargo.There are over 46,450 square meters of covered storage area in Dakar, aswell as several cold storage installations located in the vicinity.

3.9 Airports

There are 30 usabl~ airfields in Mauritania, but only two regularlyhandle international flights. The airports at Nouakchott and Nouadhibouhave precision approach/instrumental runways (2,425 m and 3,000 m long,respectively) and can accommodate large commercial aircraft such asDC 10-30 and the A-300 airbus. Both airports have runway edge, taxiwayand obstruction lighting aids. Air Mauritania operates a fleet of two-engine, propellor-driven aircraft for transporting passengers and cargoto airstrips at Aioun, Akjoujt. Aleg, Atar. Bir-Moghrein, Boghe,Boutilimit, F'Derik, Kaedi, Kiffa, M'Bout, Mederdra, Nema, Rosso,Selibaby, Tamchakett, Tichit, Tidjikja and Timbedra. Most of these air-strips have either dirt or asphalt runways and can only support light,two-engine, propellor-driven aircraft.

All private and non-SCheduled commercial aircraft overflying or land-ing in Mauritania must obtain prior permission from the Director of CivilAviation in Nouakchott. Requests to land must include purpose of flight,number of passengers, point of departure, destination and the type,amount, and origin of cargo to be loaded or unloaded in Mauritania.

3.10 Water and Energy Resources

Water and electric power supply is the responsibility of SONELEC, agovernment owned public utility corporation, under the jurisdiction of theMinistry of Water and Energy. The company prOVides water and electricalservice to ten urban areas (Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, Akjoujt, Aleg, Atar,Boutilimit, Dakla, Kaedi, Mederdra and Rosso), but most rural areas dependexclusively on groundwater drawn from wells. In Nouakchott, SONELECoperates 33 public fountains, and water is distributed to the peripheryby private water vendors equipped with donkey carts and 200-liter con-tainers. Nouakchott receives its water supply from the aquifer under-neath Trarza (about 60 km away).

34


In 1980, Mauritania's total annual energy consumption was 199 kg percapita and the average annual energy consumption growth rate was 4.8%.Over eighty percent of the total energy capacity was used by the miningoperations in the northwest sector and the port facilities at Nouadhibouand Nouakchott. At present all electric power is thermally generated byimported fuel, which accounts for 6% of all merchandise imports.

3.11 U.S. Mission Disaster Relief Plan and Resources

The U.S. Mission Disaster Relief Plan was updated in June 1983 andoutlines the organization and responsibilities of the Mission DisasterRelief team, which is headed by the Deputy Chief of Mission. A MissionDisaster Relief Officer (MDRO) is appointed from the USAID Mission staff.The position of MDRO is currently held by the Food for Peace officer.

US Plan Procedures

ActivityEstablish contact with local officials

Assess extent of disaster and need forUS assistance

Based on assessment and GI&~ request,determine that disaster exists andnotify Washington

Implement disaster plan. Modify tofit current situation (includingdetermination of commodity, technicalassistance and personnel needs)

Request appropriate commodity. technicaland personnel assistance.

Establish contact with other donors tocoordinate planning

Prepare appropriate financial procedures

Set up command center if necessary

Provide daily cable sitreps

Coordinate operations with governmentand other donors

Arrange for clearance of commodities

35

Action officerMDRO

MORO and alternate

Ambassador

MDRO and alternate

Administrative officerand support team

MORO and alternate

Financial ManagementOfficer (FM)

MORa

Alternate MORO

MORO

General Services Officer

MAURITANIA

Activity


Action officer

Arrange for clearance of personnel

Provide technical advice and assistanceto government

Turn over US commodities and monitordistribution and use

Monitor general relief and rehabilitationoperations

Maintain commodity accountabilityrecords

Prepare survey reports

Prepare final disaster report summary

TDY Needs:

Consul

AID Director

AID and Peace Corpdirectors

MDRO

General Services Officerand Food for PeaceOfficer

Alternate MORO

Alternate MDRO with allteam members

Technical (engineering, medical, logistics, etc.), communications,secretarial, and information personnel assistance may be required inevent of a disaster. The Regional Economic Development Services OfficeREDSO/Abidjan, Agency for International Development, and State Departmentmay be asked to assist in expediting transport of supplies from Dakar.

In response to the 1983-84 drought emergency, the USAID Mission inMauritania instituted a disaster relief program targeting the three most-affected regions: Trarza, Tagant and Adrar. The program consists of 1)emergency food distribution of 20-50,000 MT wheat and 5,000-6,250 MTpowdered milk to 80-90% of the residents of the three regions for a sixmonth duration; 2) financial and medical supply donations to GIRM healthagencies; 3) funding to GIRM regional authorities for such activities aspotable water supply and vegetable gardening and; 4) a grant for theextension of the CRS food and medical program to 9,000 Mauritanianfamilies. A food aid monitor was hired by the Mission to coordinatedistribution of US-supplied commodities.

3.12 Voluntary Agencies

Catholic Relief ServicesBP 539Nouakchott, RIMTel. 516-23Program Director: Jacques Montouroy

36


CRS manages the largest project and resident staff in Mauritania.CRS operates an Emergency Nutrition program conducted through 28 maternalchild health centers, serving 20.000 mothers and 30,000 children. Programincludes distribution of P.L. 480 Title II food commodities, nutritionalsurveillance surveys, dispensation of medicines, health education. andlogistical support for food distribution activities.

Lutheran World FederationBP 431Nouakchott. RIMTel. 526-90

Conducts projects in public health/child care. reforestation, andcommunity development in cooperation with Ministry of Health and RedCrescent Society of Mauritania. Financed and receives commodity donationsfrom European Church groups.

Caritas MauritanieBP 358Nouakchott, RIM

Active in charity and community development work

Marist Missionary SistersB.P. 20Rosso. RIM

Three sisters provide nursing in rural clinics in the Rosso area.

Medecins san FrontieresAioun, Hodh el Gharby, RIM

French medical relief organization, currently undertaking short-termproject in Hodh el Gharby region of eastern Mauritania.

3.13 International OrganizationsUnited Nations Development Program(UNDP)BP 620Nouakchott. RIM Tel. 524-09/524-11

World Health Organization (WHO)BP 320Nouakchott, RIM Tel. 524-02

Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. (FAO)BP 620Nouakchott, RIM Tel. 531-57

37

MAURITANIA

World Food Program (WFP)BP 620Nouakchott, RIM


Tel. 527-93

United Nations Sahelian Office (UNSO)BP 620Nouakchott, RIM

UNICEFBP 620Nouakchott, RIM

Delegation de la Commission de la CommunauteEuropeenne (CCE) (EEC)BP 213Nouakchott, RIM Tel. 527-24

3.14 Mitigation and the Development Process

The rainfall deficit that began in 1968 has become the worst droughtin Mauritania's history. It has severely retarded economic developmentand directly contributed to the problems of decreased food production,environmental degradation, and urban overcrowding. The continued relianceon food imports and other foreign aid has undermined the nation's economyand greatly increased its balance of payments deficit and external debt.Mauritania's per capita GNP is skewed by inflated mining sector revenuesand conceals one of the poorest standards of living in the world.Although the government is dedicated to development, two industrializa-tion projects, an oil refinery and a sugar processing plant, proved to beill-conceived and unprofitable. The sale of the country's main exports,iron ore and fish, is heavily dependent on fluctuating world marketprices. Furthermore, the government's efforts to alleviate the effectsof the drought have been hampered by a poorly managed governmentbureaucracy, disproportionately high military expenditures, and a budgetfreeze on public spending.

One of the keys to Mauritania's drought mitigation efforts andincreased. food production is the development of two foreign-subsidizedhydroagricultural projects. The Gorgol Noir irrigation project, begun in1975, calls for the construction of two dams on the Gorgol tributary tobring under cultivation about 30,000 hectares of land for rice and sugarproduction. The Organization for the Development of the Senegal River(OMVS) has begun construction of a dam at Diama on the Senegal Riverdelta to arrest the infiltration of seawater upstream and open up largetracts of land to irrigated farming. Although these projects are notlarge enough to allow Mauritania to achieve agricultural self-sufficiency,they do represent a modernized agricultural development policy and adecreased dependence on the vagaries of rain-fed farming.

38


..

Although the fluctuations in rainfall cannot be controlled, thegovernment/'of Mauritania has begun to address the problems of desertifi-cation and deforestation. To arrest the encroachment of the desert intothe Sahelian zone, the government has started a number of afforestationand sand dune stabilization projects under the auspices of the Ministryof Rural Development. Legislation has been enacted to protect acaciaforests and date palm groves from range fires and indiscriminate treecutting. Perhaps the most effective weapon to prevent environmentaldeterioration is education of farmers and herdsmen in proper land usetechniques. In order to halt the progress of desertification, herdsmenand farmers must be taught to stop such environmentally destructivepractices as slash and burn agriculture, overgrazing of pasturage, andovercultivation of marginal land.

Chronic drought has become a way of life in Mauritania. In the past,the nomadic population adjusted to prolonged dry periods by migrating tothe available pasturage in the south. However, desertification andincreased population density has increased competition over the diminishedavailable land and water. Mauritania's economic and ecological survivaldepends on its ability to augment agricultural productivity, modernizethe country's infrastructure, and better utilize land and water resources.

39

MAURITANIA

Bibliography

Bibliography

Binkin, Nancy J. M.D. Trip Report. Mauritania. October-November 1983.Atlanta; Centers for Disease Control. Department of Health &Human Services; 1984.

Curran, Brian Dean and Schrock, Joann. Area Handbook for Mauritania.Washington, D.C: American University. Foreign Areas Studies,1972.

Development Alternatives, Inc. Survey of Disaster Preparedness Needs andDevelopment Activities in the Sahel. Washington, D.C: Agency forInternational Development, Office of U.S. Foreign DisasterAssistance; 1981.

Evaluation Technologies, Inc. A Sahel Transportation Survey. Washington,D.C.: US Agency for International Development, Office of U.S.Foreign Disaster Assistance; 1979.

Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Plan D'Action D'Urgence. CommissionNationale D'Assistance Aux Populations Eprouvees Par IeSecheresse. November 1983.

Kurian, George Thomas. Encyclopedia of the Third World: Revised Edition.New York: Facts on File, Inc. 1981.

Library of Congress. Science and Technology Division. Draft Environ-mental Report on Mauritania. U.S. Man and the BiosphereSecretariat. Department of State. Washington, D.C.; 1979.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Climate Impact Assess-ment Division, Models Branch. Weather-Crop Yield Relationships inDrought-Prone Countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. Washington, D.C.:Agency for International Development; 1979.

Rand McNally. Africa Guide 1981. Essex, England: World of Information;1981.

Rural Assessment and Manpower Survey. Dryland Agriculture. Nouakchott:U.S. Agency for International Development. Bureau for Africa;1981.

Food and Nutritional Situation in Mauritania. Nouakchott:U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau for Africa;1981.

Health/Nutrition. Nouakchott: U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment. Bureau for Africa; 1981.

40

MAURITANIA

Bibliographyf"-

Bibliography

Livestock Subsector Study. Nouakchott: U.S. Agency for Inter-national Development. Bureau for Africa; 1981.

Rain-fed Agriculture. Nouakchott: U.S. Agency for Interna-tional Development. Bureau for Africa; 1981.

Rural Health: outline of the Mauritania health sector.Nouakchott: U.S. Agency for International Development Assistance.Bureau for Africa; 1981.

Rural Production. Nouakchott: U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment. Bureau for Africa; 1981.

Sakamoto, Clarence. Trip Report: Mauritania. February-March 1984.Colombia, Mo.: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Assessment and Information Service Center; 1984.

TAICH Country Report. Development Assistance Programs of U.S. Non-ProfitOrganizations. Mauritania. New York: American Council ofVoluntary Agencies for Foreign Service, Inc.; 1978.

U.S. Agency for International Assistance. Office of U.S. ForeignDisaster Assistance. Case Reports. The Sahel (1972-1975).Mauritania-Drought (January/October 1978). Drought/LivestockDisaster (Spring 1979). Rabies/Meningitis Epidemics (Feb-June1982).

U.S. Agency for International Development. Country Development StrategyStatement: FY 85 Mauritania. Washington, D.C.: AID. January1983.

Office of Housing. Mauritania: Shelter Sector Assessment.Washington. D.C.: National Savings and Loan League. January1979.

USAID Mission Mauritania. Mission Disaster Relief Plan:Mauritania. Nouakchott; June 1983.

Vermeer, Donald E. "Collision of Climate. Cattle and Culture inMauritania During the 1970's". The Geographical Review, 71(July 1981): 281-97.

Water and Sanitation for Health Project. The Effect of Drought ConditionsUpon Village Water Supply and Public Health in Mauritania. WASHField Report 112. Prepared for OFDA/AID. January 1984.

41

MAURITANIA

Bibliography

Bibliography

Public Health Assessment of Proposed Dams, Water-RelatedDiseases and Community Water Supplies. Washington, D.C.: AID1981.

World Bank. Islamic Republic of Mauritania: Recent Economic Developmentsand External Capital Developments. Washington, D.C.: World Bank.1979.

Researched and Written by: Dennis J. KingProduction by: Waverly Jackson, Jr.

42

. .

Documents

A ountry Profilepdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAQ450.pdf · A ountry Profile Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development Washington, D.C. 20523 BESTAVAILABLECOpy