Photo: C. Moreno Vazquez from IO
These are the lands Sahel, in Africa. There is a drought causing that over 10 million people are at risk of a major food crisis. Niger is the country whit the highest risk, with 8 million people in the areas affected by the lack of rain, but the threat extends to other countries in the region such as Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Nigeria.
The erratic rains last year resulted in a lack of water and a significant shortfall in the pasture, resulting in poor harvests. In Niger, crops were reduced by 26% compared to last year, and in some regions, notably in Diffa in eastern and western Tillabéry, there was nothing to be harvest. In Chad, the harvest was 34% less than the year before. It is expected that the regions of Hadjer Lamis, Batha, Bahr El Ghaza, and Guera Kanem and eastern Chad are seriously affected, especially from the month of April 2010.
According to Oxfam, the grain prices are high and rising in the region. In Niger, prices of millet increased by 25% and sorghum by 50% compared to 2009. No rain is expected by June and it is expected to steadily increase prices until the next harvest in September.
Faced with this shortage and lack of resources, open pits that people share with animals become a major focus of infection and can cause epidemics.
The NGO Oxfam has enabled links to encourage donations for projects in these countries. Several other NGOs such as SOS Aldeas Infantiles also follow developments from around the famine that threatens these countries.
The erratic rains last year resulted in a lack of water and a significant shortfall in the pasture, resulting in poor harvests. In Niger, crops were reduced by 26% compared to last year, and in some regions, notably in Diffa in eastern and western Tillabéry, there was nothing to be harvest. In Chad, the harvest was 34% less than the year before. It is expected that the regions of Hadjer Lamis, Batha, Bahr El Ghaza, and Guera Kanem and eastern Chad are seriously affected, especially from the month of April 2010.
According to Oxfam, the grain prices are high and rising in the region. In Niger, prices of millet increased by 25% and sorghum by 50% compared to 2009. No rain is expected by June and it is expected to steadily increase prices until the next harvest in September.
Faced with this shortage and lack of resources, open pits that people share with animals become a major focus of infection and can cause epidemics.
The NGO Oxfam has enabled links to encourage donations for projects in these countries. Several other NGOs such as SOS Aldeas Infantiles also follow developments from around the famine that threatens these countries.
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