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Mauritania

With its decades-old open-door policy, Mauritania hosts over 139,000 registered Malian refugees in the arid southeast Hodh Chargui region where the Mbera camp is located. At the same time, more than 17,000 registered refugees and asylum-seekers, comprising 30 different nationalities, live in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. With the volatile security situation in Mali, largescale returns are not expected. A large-scale influx continues into 2023 and 2024, with over 110,000 new arrivals estimated since January 2024.

At the government’s request and through the Refugee Coordination Forum, UNHCR coordinates an interagency humanitarian response with national and local authorities in the refugee-hosting Hodh Chargui region.

UNHCR’s strategy in Mauritania is to ensure refugees access adequate protection and assistance and, at the same time, are progressively included in national services and systems. UNHCR also engages directly with refugee and host communities to strengthen their decision-making, participation and self-reliance within the broader pursuit of durable solutions.

Additional information

For information about our work in Mauritania:

Operational updates

For up-to-date information about our programmes and operations in Mauritania, including funding level and donor contributions, visit Global Focus, UNHCR's reporting portal.

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Legislation and guidance

For legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection, visit Refworld.

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Office contact details

Representation UNHCR Nouakchott

Street Address:
Ilot K No. 143, Route de la Corniche, Nouakchott, Mauritania

Mailing Address:
B.P. 4405, Nouakchott, Mauritania

Phone:
+222 5 257 415

Fax:
+222 5 256 176

Email:
[email protected]

Time zone:
GMT +0

    Working hours

    • Monday: 8:00 - 17:00
    • Tuesday: 8:00 - 17:00
    • Wednesday: 8:00 - 17:00
    • Thursday: 8:00 - 17:00
    • Friday: 8:00 - 12:30
    • Saturday: closed
    • Sunday: closed

    Office contact details

    Represenatation UNHCR Nouakchott

    Street Address:
    Ilot K No. 143, Route de la Corniche, Nouakchott, Mauritania
    Mailing Address:
    B.P. 4405, Nouakchott, Mauritania
    Telephone:
    Facsimile:
    222 5 256 176
    Time Zone:
    GMT + 0
    Working Hours
    Monday: 8:00 - 17:00
    Tuesday: 8:00 - 17:00
    Wednesday: 8:00 - 17:00
    Thursday: 8:00 - 17:00
    Friday: 8:00 - 12:30
    Saturday: closed
    Sunday: closed
    Public Holidays:
    03 January 2022, Jour de L'An
    02 May 2022, Fete du Travail
    03 May 2022, Fete D'El Fitr
    04 May 2022, Lendemain Fete El Fitr
    10 July 2022, Fete Id El Adha
    11 July 2022, Lendemain Id El Adha
    29 July 2022, Fete du Nouvel An Musliman
    07 October 2022, Maouloud (Naissance du Prophet
    28 November 2022, Fete de l'Independance
    26 December 2022, Noel