NOUAKCHOTT, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Mauritanian government throws its weight behind an ongoing campaign against begging in a bid to improve human rights conditions.

    Campaigners have set up four centers to take in people who had been reduced to begging in the capital Nouakchott at a cost of 1.2million U. S. dollars offered by the Human Rights Commission and the Humanitarian Action in Relation with the Civil Society (CDHAHRSC).

    The campaign, carried out under the slogan "the fight against begging is a responsibility of all", targets the 1,780 beggars already identified to provide them accommodation and food.

    The four centers opened in Nouakchott with a capacity of 600 people, offering meals, health care, courses to eliminate illiteracy and professional training of the handicapped.

    The human rights commissioner, Mohamed Lemine Ould Dadda, said on Friday the CDHAHRSC launched this campaign to eradicate the shameful phenomenon of begging.

    The campaigner called on all ulemas, sociologists and the civil society groups to work hard on a long-term sensitization program to end the phenomenon.