WORLD FUTURE - NIGER FUTURE

8 April 2010

Dakar — Aid agencies are asking donors for US$133 million to help the government feed millions of people at risk of going hungry, adding to $57 million already received or committed.

The funds are needed to improve the food security of 3.2 million people and provide nutritional assistance to 1.54 million children and 35,000 pregnant and lactating women, the UN and NGOs in Niger say.

Six UN agencies and nine NGOs are launching the appeal.

"We urge the international community to respond swiftly and ensure humanitarian agencies have the required financial resources to respond to Niger's urgent needs," Khardiata Lo N'diaye, head of the UN in Niger, said in a 7 April communiqué.

Modibo Traoré who is with OCHA in Niger, told IRIN: "If sufficient funding is not found a significant increase in mortality and morbidity among children under five may occur; population movements from rural to urban areas and neighbouring countries will increase, and the abandonment of schools will intensify dramatically. More than one million head of cattle may die. It is extremely urgent to act now because these consequences are already visible on the ground."

Mass migration is already occurring, with people heading from where rural villages to towns in Agadez, Zinder, Maradi and the capital, Niamey, as well as to neighbouring countries.

Poor or erratic rainfall has caused serious food and fodder shortages in parts of the country, triggering a spike in grain prices and a fall in livestock prices.

Response

The government has subsidized cereals in all of the affected areas. NGOs and UN agencies are scaling up to help the government respond to people's food security, nutrition, health and livestock support needs in Tahoua, Diffa, Maradi and Zinder.

The International Committee of the Red Cross plans to buy some 14,500 cattle from nomadic farmers in and around Agadez at pre-crisis prices. FAO will intervene to support the livestock sector but not until end of April, according to OCHA.

ICRC will also provide food, seeds and tools for 100,000 people in both Niger and in Kidal and Gao in northern Mali where a further 250,000 people are estimated to be food-insecure.

Aid agencies are still assessing the food and nutrition situation around the country, including in Diffa and Tahoua.

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]