The Convoy of Hope is rushing 80,000 pounds of food to a starved Niger this week, joining dozens of Christian relief agencies already working to prevent what may become one of the worst humanitarian crises to face the region in years.
Niger, the second poorest nation in the world, faced droughts in the last three consecutive years. This year, however, situations worsened as a plague of locusts swarmed through the country and ate almost all remaining vegetation and crops.
Millions in the nation, including nearly one million children face death by starvation and rely on foreign aid for mere survival. Thousands have already died from severe malnutrition and those numbers are expected to increase dramatically unless help arrives.
The Convoy of Hope, an outreach wing of the Assemblies of God, will send out an assessment to team to help distribute the 80,000 pounds of rice, beans, maize, and pasta to the region.
In addition the Convoy of Hope will be donating an additional 250-300,000 pounds of grain products over the next two to three months to help alleviate the famine in the southern and eastern areas of Niger.
Pauline J. Chang
Christian Today Correspondent
