In south-eastern Mauritania, seven UN Volunteers serving with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), are aiding 67,000 refugees who fled Mali since 2012. Originally from the north and the centre of Mali, they now live in the Mberra camp and its outskirts.
The UN Volunteers deliver in a variety of roles, ranging from protection, refugee status determination, livelihoods, WASH, and health, to administrative functions and communication. Their goal? To improve the well-being of the refugees.
The diverse skills and backgrounds of UN Volunteers have added a perceptible dynamic to the actions of UNHCR in Mauritania, contributing to the promotion of a sense of solidarity. UN Volunteers, both national and international, have been fundamental in the protection and assistance of refugees, showing that volunteerism is a major, if not essential, support to the humanitarian sector. --Maria Stavropoulou, UNHCR Resident Representative, Mauritania
Currently, 21 UN Volunteers assist UNHCR to deliver protection and humanitarian assistance in Mauritania.