1.
SV President Ould daddah walks forward with Director of Red Crescent
0.3

2.
CU President cuts ribbon
0.27

3.
CU PAN FROM Director TO Mrs. Ould Daddah
0.35

4.
CU President
0.38

5.
SV Group outside building
0.43

6.
CU INT Slogan on wall "Help us to help you."
0.48

7.
President and party leave new building
0.58

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SV PAN FROM Red Crescent slogan TO women and children queuing for milk
1.25

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CU Milk dispensed
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CU Children drink milk
1.47

11.
SV Inoculation outside medical centre
1.57

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LV PAN People drink milk outside medical centre
2.03



Initials BB/1801 BL/MR/BB/2134



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Mauritania's President Ould Daddah opened a new Red Crescent centre at Nouakchott, the capital, on Wednesday (December 5)
The centre was built by the mauritanian Red Crescent for about GBP 36,000 sterling (80,0000 U.S. dollars) and incorporates a welfare and food distribution centre, as well as medical facilities.

President Ould Daddah praised the efforts of his wife, who helped found the Mauritanian Red Crescent and holds the office of President. The Society was formed in 1970, and became the 117th member of the League of the Societies of the Red Cross.

The Society's work has so far been primarily among Mauritania's drought-stricken nomadic population. The Society's ten committees, with a total membership of about 1,700 volunteers, have helped carry out the Government's drought aid programme.

Mauritania is considered among the countries worst affected by the four-year drought in West Africa. Hundreds of thousands of nomads have died in the parched interior, and many have travelled to Nouakchott, on the coast.

The drought has almost wiped out the nomad's livestock, on which they depend for their diet of meat and milk. The new Red crescent centre will provide food and milk for homeless nomads, particularly women and children.

The Mauritanian Red Crescent also plans to establish a blood bank, school canteens, kindergartens, old people's homes, and mobile dispensing units.