Malian refugees turn to firefighting to give back to their communities in Mauritania
## Overview of Refugee Firefighters in Mauritania
Overview of Refugee Firefighters in Mauritania
Refugee firefighters in Mauritania have developed a method for combating bushfires in the region, utilizing tree branches to extinguish flames. This technique has been honed over more than a decade of experience in the challenging landscape of the Mauritanian desert.
Bushfires in this part of West Africa are a significant hazard, capable of igniting rapidly and persisting for extended durations. The affected area is inhabited by both local Mauritanians and over 250,000 Malian refugees, who depend on the limited vegetation for their livestock.
For the refugees, firefighting represents a way to contribute to the local community that provided them refuge from the instability in Mali. The initiative began in 2012, when refugees, recognizing the threat of bushfires, organized volunteer firefighting efforts. The operation now includes over 360 refugee volunteers collaborating with Mauritanian authorities and firefighters.
Since 2018, the UNHCR has supported the refugee firefighting efforts, with financial backing from the European Union for training and equipment. This support also includes the establishment of firebreaks to prevent the spread of fires.
Refugee firefighters in Mauritania have developed a method for combating bushfires in the region, utilizing tree branches to extinguish flames.
When a bushfire occurs, a coordinated response is initiated. Firefighters rapidly deploy in pickup trucks, and once on-site, teams utilize acacia branches to combat the blaze, leveraging the tree's heat resistance. Additional teams are available for support if needed.
Mauritania's landscape, largely comprised of the Sahara Desert, faces increased desertification due to climate change, heightening the strain on resources such as water. The United Nations has identified tensions over grazing areas as a potential threat to peace, exacerbated by climate change effects.
Tayyar Sukru Cansizoglou, UNHCR's chief in Mauritania, has noted that climate change has diminished the availability of grazing land, making even a single bushfire a severe risk for both refugees and local populations reliant on livestock.
Based on reporting by Africanews.
