Update: Niger Food Crisis

  1. Nigerien mother cradles her 14-month-old son, Lamyne, who is being treated for severe acute malnutrition.
  2. Two-year-old Jamila undergoes a medical check to determine her level of malnutrition. Her sparse dullish red hair is just one of the symptoms of her severe acute malnutrition.
  3. A trained community volunteer weighs one-year-old Mariam at a health centre providing assistance to malnourished children. Mariam will undergo treatment for severe acute malnutrition’.
  4. Mariam, aunt and guardian of 9-month-old Zwera, takes her to a health centre providing assistance to malnourished children. Zwera’s mother died in childbirth.’
  5. Two-year-old Jamila undergoes a medical check to determine her level of malnutrition.

In Niger, an estimated 7.8 million people (58.2% of Niger's population) are reported to be experiencing food insecurity, and 1.5 million children under 5 are at risk of malnutrition. Some 2.7 million people (20% of population) are severely vulnerable, and 5.1 million are moderately vulnerable to food insecurity.

How you can help:

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Background

The months of May through October are already known as the ‘lean season’ in Niger and other West African countries.

Communities’ main cereal supplies, such as millet, ran out much earlier than usual because last year’s harvest was so poor. That hardship is now being tragically compounded by the fact that the rains are very late; meaning communities have not even been able to start planting or preparing for the harvest in October.

The effects of the previous year’s poor harvest are already being felt as people’s coping mechanisms are collapsing. Heads of families and young people are leaving their families behind to seek work in neighbouring Nigeria. People in affected areas are already selling off their livestock and productive assets.

Download the Niger country profile.

World Vision’s response

World Vision began its current Niger Food and Nutrition Emergency Response program in mid-April 2010 as part of its response to the appeal made to the international community by the interim government of Niger in early March this year.

World Vision aims to assist the most food insecure portion of the population within 18 of its Area Development Programs (ADPs).

World Vision Niger aims to assist 79,950 people by a variety of projects including:

  • emergency feeding of acutely malnourished children under the age of 5
  • supplementary feeding of children under 5, and pregnant and nursing mothers
  • general food distributions to people in most need within ADPs and surrounding communities
  • community and staff training on good feeding practices
  • project monitoring and assessment

Children sponsored by Australians

World Vision Australia does not have sponsored children in Niger. However other offices within the World Vision partnership, such as Canada, New Zealand, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States support communities in Niger via their child sponsorship programs.

How you can help

Support for the Emergency & Preparedness Fund enables World Vision to prepare for emergencies by pre-stocking and positioning life-saving supplies and ensuring trained staff are available to be on the scene quickly, to respond to emergencies.

Find out more about our Emergency & Preparedness Fund or donate now.

 

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