Mauretania

The name of SwissRelief’s partner organization translates as “mutual help and solidarity for the people.” And that is exactly what SwissRelief is doing in Mauritania. Unfortunately, the economic situation in the country continues to deteriorate. The partner organization has reacted to the difficult current situation. For example, it provided food for 200 malnourished children in a poor district. The regular distribution of supplementary food was carried out through four distribution centers. The organization also identified 300 families in need to provide them with food.

In order to provide long-term, sustainable help, the organization also ran a literacy course. The course enabled 90 people to learn the basics of reading and writing. The organization also supported 25 families living in extreme poverty. Through the creation of micro-projects, they were able to escape poverty. The next step for the aid organization is the construction of a community center in which it can store relief supplies, from where it can coordinate aid distributions, and where it can hold trainings. The land has already been purchased and initial construction work has begun.

Another partner of SwissRelief helps people as a lawyer and organizes campaigns to sensitize the population about various issues. These campaigns inform people about the basics of human rights and the need to protect minorities. He also draws attention to the dangers of hate speech on social media and provides strategies for dealing with it. As a result, five people affected by hate speech were helped in a practical way: They were temporarily taken to safety in a different location, where they lived until it was safe for them to return.