Mauritanian minister highlights fears

Mauritania's Environment Minister Amedi Camara Nouakchott - Habib al-Qurashi Mauritania's Environment Minister Amedi Camara has highlighted the two major environmental threats facing capital Nouakchott as desertification from north to west, and flooding from the Atlantic Ocean. The minister says Mauritanian authorities are aware of these dangers, and began taking measure to counter the threats two years ago. Camara added that the government is currently planting a 2000 hectare green belt to protect the city. The minister blamed the capital's sewage network for the increased threat, adding the system destroyed the natural sandy barrier that protected the city from ocean water. "We have conducted studies to tackle the risk, to find final and sustainable solutions. We are now working on the recommendations," he explained. One of the solutions put forward is the creation of concrete barriers to fill the gaps in the city's natural flood defence barriers.