Niger Food Crisis
The Disasters Emergency Committee is extremely concerned about the growing food crisis in the semi-desert Sahel region of West Africa. Drought has led to livestock deaths and grain stocks are running extremely low. The worst affected country is Niger where over seven million people face serious food shortages. The situation is also extremely grave in parts of Chad, eastern Mali, northern Burkina Faso, and the far north of Nigeria. The rainy season is now beginning, bringing some respite for herders with surviving livestock. Farmers are now planting the last of any remaining grain but will not see a harvest until September or October.
The DEC is in close contact with its Member Agencies regarding the Sahel food crisis and is reviewing the situation against its appeal criteria.
Member Agencies which have launched specific appeals for funds include:
