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![Mothers wait in line to receive food aid at a distribution centre at the village of Yama in northwestern Niger August 3, 2005. [REUTERS/Finbarr O' Reilly courtesy of alertnet.org]](/var/storage/images/miscellaneous-image-folders/niger/women-wait-in-line/1244238-1-eng-GB/women-wait-in-line_1column50_12space_landscape.jpg)
Our partners are responding to the drought in Niger, where more than half the people are facing severe hunger because of poor rains
Niger, in West Africa faces an unfolding humanitarian crisis where poor rains have led to drought conditions.
The United Nations estimates that up to half (7.8 million) of the population of 14 million are affected by these poor rains and consequent poor harvest, and it is feared that an estimated 400,000 children are now at risk of starvation.
CAFOD has a history of working in Niger, and we have been able to work quickly through our partners to respond to this emergency with cash for work programmes, targeting an initial 5,000 families, who will be able to buy food and other essentials.
Our partners will also be running nutrition clinics aimed at helping vulnerable children under five, as well as breast-feeding mothers.
The situation could get worse, but the alarm has been sounded and we've been able to step up our response through our partners and support the most vulnerable communities with life saving aid
The area affected by the food crisis is extremely poor and most people do not have any savings to see them through a severe food shortage. The cost of food has rocketed, with grain being imported from neighbouring Nigeria.
Our partners report that hundreds of thousands of cattle have died and the price of those that have survived has plummeted leaving families with no way of surviving the ‘hungry season’.
Matthew Carter, CAFOD’s Head of Humanitarian Department said: “The situation could get worse, but the alarm has been sounded and we've been able to step up our response through our partners and support the most vulnerable communities with life saving aid.”
We have pledged an initial £100,000 to our partners and are looking to further scale up our response to the mounting needs of Niger's people.
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