UN warns against famine in Mauritania

The UN World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) has announced in a report issued on Wednesday in Rome that some 411,000 persons in all parts of Mauritania are in need of urgent food aids.

The report said that the bad agricultural and climatic conditions in Mauritania and the short rainfall is threatening cereals crops in this country for the second running year.

The report considered that importation of 322,534 tons of cereals will be necessary to meet the needs of the country. The report added that with the projected importation through trade and food aids there will be a shortage that should be ensured through extra food aid.

Worthy mentioning that cereal production in Mauritania for 2002- 2003 estimated at 99,705 tons decreased by 18% in comparison with the year 2001- 2002 which was 32% less than the figures of 2000- 2001.