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Severe Drought Causes Hunger for 10 Million in West Africa
A severe drought is causing increasing hunger across the Eastern Sahel in west Africa, affecting 10 million people in four countries, aid agencies warned today. In Niger, the worst-affected country, 7.1 million are hungry, with nearly half considered highly food insecure because of the loss of livestock and crops coupled with a surge in prices. In Chad, 2 million require food aid. The eastern parts of Mali and northern Cameroon have also been badly affected by the failed rains, says the UN World Food Programme, which described the situation as critical.The Sahel, a largely arid belt of land that stretches across Senegal to Sudan and separates the Sahara desert in the north from the savannah regions further south, is one of the poorest regions in the world. The WFP, which plans to assist 3.6 million people in the coming months, has described the humanitarian situation in the four affected countries as "critical", and says the hunger season is expected to last at least until the next harvest in September.
In Niger 7.1 million are hungry as the drought affects livestock and crops. (Photograph: Alamy) Save the Children, which has
launched an emergency appeal for Niger, says in some cases families have
trekked more than 600 miles to reach the capital Niamey to find work or
beg for food. Others have crossed the border in Nigeria. Similarly,
desperate Chadians have sought food in Libya.
The effect of the drought has been compared to the 2005 crisis in Niger, where tens of thousands of children needed treatment for acute malnutrition. Then, president Mamadou Tandja exacerbated the emergency by denying that the extent the hunger. But he was toppled in a military coup in February this year, which has helped the humanitarian response this time.
"The new government is not in denial, so the situation may not turn out to be as serious as in 2005," said Malek Triki, a WFP spokesman in Dakar. "The international community and the local authorities have been preparing for this."
13 Comments so far
Show AllIn the Global South 10 million people in four countries are facing starvation because of a drought sent to them by the northern industrial countries.
remember what happened in Copenhagen? and what didn't?
I'm not saying Copenhagen could have prevented this drought, but the problem has been well known- and ignored- in the North for a very long time, and could have been prevented.
And what's up with the "progressives" here at commondreams? zero comments is shocking
seguro, abuelo
there are certain topics that generate discussion and others that are seemingly similar and interelated that don't.
this drought is climate change for the worse in action.
Americans don't give a rats ass about Africa, thats why Abuelo.
Not any "feel good" liberal points like Gaza.
This article recieved exactly the same attention over on
the Webby of the Year Website, Truth Dig.
Thats all most of the commentary on the internet,
"feel goodness".
As anyone may see with the condition of the world and our
own country, the internet has had zero effect in bringing
positive change to the world ,and to this country.
It is a web of well read , well spoken, do gooders that
"feel real good" about themselves, and relieve their
conscience after a thoughtful but meaningless post on the web.
As a matter of fact, Americans don't give a rats ass about
anything but their own ass. It is very evident isn't it??
Americans don't really care about the Palistinians either.
It is just some political points for everyone to show how
careing they are now, but really think of them the same as
they do the starving Africans.
If they did care, they would park their automobiles, throw
away their cell phones, disconnect the MSMs and all the
Sports casting.
Americans didn't care or give a rats ass about one million
Iraqi dieing so we could steal their oil.
Get my rift??
We good at talking the talk but no one walks the walk.DO DA.
Good points. But then, why should we? Do you honestly believe Palestinians would give a rat's ass about us, were roles reversed?
Guilt alone prompts us to send food, to say anything. Guilt, plain and simple. Anything we do for them is for our peace of mind. But again, all people are this way. All people want more than they have, and won't care about happens to far-away Others so long as they get it (except for that tiny, irritating thing called guilt). It's a human (not an American) characteristic.
One finds justification no matter what side one is on when it comes to a political issue and then there are the rest of us who are on no side but get ambushed and involved on one side or the other and kill or are killed [murder or are murdered] for the point of view of one side or the other. All sides, more than two, miss the point. Live in peace, find a solution to aging and a way to another planet(s) outside this solar system. Look at the environmental destruction happening around you. Will there be a planet to live on for future generations?
Climate change "sent by northern industrial countries" is part of the problem, but local practices such as deforestation also cause draught.
Wealthy nations are guilty of wasting resources, but poorer nations cause their own problems with huge birth rates.
I have yet to read about a tragedy in a third world country where they don't showcase someone who has upwards of 5 children.
"Such and such has 8 children and can't afford to feed them."
Well......
Your Ignorance is Astounding but Not Surprising..
I believe in Free Speech as much as anyone, but I have no respect for ignorant speech that ignores history and supercedes the most relevant facts:
http://www.rwor.org/a/015/niger-colonialism-hunger.htm
Feel free to post with the "fair & balanced" folks over at Fox.. your ignorance is not needed here!
I read your the article referenced above.
I don't dispute any of the information it contained.
However, how do YOU propose the Earth is supposed to provide food for 7 Billion people?
Just as a physician's first decree is to do no harm, a humanitarian's decree should be:
First do not destroy the planet.
Merely sending food to poor countries, all of which have exploding populations, is to increase agony, despair and suffering.
Food donations must be coupled with controlling birth rates, or it only makes the problem worse.