Niger braces itself for year of food, aid emergency

"Erratic rainfall and western financial strife mean improved crisis preparations are being stretched to the limit"

As Niger braces itself for a food emergency after late and erratic rains last year and a surge in food prices, humanitarian agencies are stepping up malnutrition screening so that children receive swift treatment to prevent permanent damage. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Niger braces itself for year of food, aid emergency. At the best of times this vast landlocked country has trouble feeding itself. This year threatens to be particularly severe.

Humanitarian organisations estimate that 1.3 million people are suffering from acute malnutrition across the Sahel, a belt of countries. Other nations must take up the baton to ensure that the international response is fast and effective. The question is whether Sahel countries will receive enough help for such measures at a time of financial crisis in the west.

World Food Programme's food-for-work scheme means families receive grain, vegetables and oil for three months in return for work designed to build up the community's ability to sustain itself. Alas, all such efforts to build resilience will fall short as long as Niger continues to have one of the world's highest population growth rates.