Le Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies pour les Réfugiés, Monsieur Antonio Guterres et de Madame Ertharin Cousin, Directrice Exécutive du Programme Alimentaire Mondial étaient au Niger du 04 au 07 Mai 2012. Lors de cette visite, le Haut-Commissaire a appelé la communauté internationale à aider les réfugiés maliens et les populations d'accueil. Il a aussi mis l'accent sur le fait qu’une solution politique urgente devrait être trouvée afin d'éviter que la situation dans la région du Sahel se transforme en une crise globale.

On 19 May, the regional health services and the Hakem of Bassikounou officially launched the vaccination campaign against measles and polio in the refugee camp of Mbera. This vaccination campaign takes place in the whole region of Hodh el Charghi and benefit children between six months to 15 years of age for the vaccination against measles and to children between zero to five years of age for the vaccination against polio. The Ministry of Health conducts this campaign with the support WHO and UNICEF.

From 15 to 17 May the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel appointed by OCHA accompanied by the Representatives of UNHCR and UNICEF in Mauritania and the National Coordinator appointed by the MIDEC were on mission in the region of Hodh el Charghi. During the mission, the delegation met with the authorities and went the Mbera refugee camp.

On 24 May, the MoH launched a campaign for the distribution of vitamin supplementation and mebendazole with the support of UNICEF. This supplementation campaign takes place in the whole region of Hodh el Charghi and benefit refugee children between six months to 15 years of age who are living in the Mbera camp. During this supplementation campaign, MSF / B will conduct a nutritional screening of refugee children.

On 3 June 2012, the Representative of UNHCR in Mauritania, the Governor of Hodh el Charghi and the National Coordinator visited the village of Aghor and met with the technicians in preparation to the creation of a new refugee camp. This village is located 65 km away from the border, 70 km away from Bassikounou and 35 km away from Bassikounou. UNHCR had already a camp in this village in the 1990’s. Following this mission, a consensus was reached on the location of the new refugee camp and thus UNHCR submitted an official request to the Government to create a new camp in Aghor. On 8 July 2012, UNHCR received a confirmation on the Government's approval for the creation of a new refugee camp in Aghor.

To accommodate the constant influx of refugees in Mauritania, a new camp is in preparation in the region of Aghor, 65 km away from the Malian border.

The cholera epidemic which is affecting many parts of the Sahel region is progressing. Nine (9) cases of cholera have been reported in Tabareybarey camp.

There is an urgent need for funds to scale up WASH response, especially given the serious implications of the cholera outbreak.

As of 20 July UNHCR has received USD 49.9 million for activities related to this crisis. This represents only 32.5% of the total requirements.

Niger:The Refugee Education WG held its first meeting the week of July 9. Summer classes are currently being implemented in Tabareybarey and Mangaize.