Mbéra is a rural community in the Néma region of south-east Mauritania in West Africa situated close to the Mali border.
Tens of thousands of Malians have flocked to the Mauritanian refugee camp of Mbéra in recent years. They are fleeing jihadist attacks and intensified fighting with the army from their Sahel countries (such as Mali, Burkina-Faso and Niger).
In the refugee camps on the borders of Mauritania, the living conditions of the predominantly Sahel refugees are extremely poor. People’s health has deteriorated rapidly due to the very poor conditions, inadequate food, lack of shelter, hygiene and severe water shortages. The risk of malnutrition is constantly increasing, especially for small children who have been in the camps for several weeks. In view of the unhygienic conditions, bacteria and endemic diseases are spreading.
We ask you to please help us to improve this inhumane situation for the children and their families!
The objective of this emergency aid project is to significantly and sustainably improve the living conditions in the community in the Mbéra refugee camp and to support the population in coping with the daily challenges they face under these extremely difficult conditions. The first priority is to improve hygiene conditions and the supply of clean drinking water. The supply of safe water sources is extremely urgent and vital in the region’s extreme heat and drought.
Activities of the emergency project:
- Building sanitary blocks together with the refugees.
- Solar taps for clean drinking water (with an electric charging station for cell phones).
- Kits for the self-construction of shelters.
- Gardens, equipped with tools and powered by solar energy, so that women can work and generate income.
- Setting up and equipping community canteens with refrigerators for storing food reserves, especially perishable food. At the same time, these rooms serve as sales outlets for the food the communities produce themselves.
- Implementing camp schools, in accordance with the UN / UNESCO focus on “Education in emergency situations” and against education stoppage.
These emergency aid measures will help to sustainably improve the living conditions of the suffering population, primarily women and children, and to some extent restore their human dignity under the current terrible conditions.
