Christian Aid Call on Relief Teams to Break Cycle of Crisis in Niger

A Christian Aid consultant has reported on the terrible situation of thousands of people in Niger, and how many people are facing the fear of starvation in the African country.

Desmond McCall, who is a consultant of the Christian organisation, gave details of the situation common in the country. Many farmers even if they gain a good yield of crops this year know it will not last until next year’s harvest.

Farmers and their families were forced to eat most of their seeds before sowing them due to extreme hunger with nothing else to eat, and now many have just a proportion of their fields planted.

Now weak with hunger, farmers also are struggling even to find the energy to tend to their available crops, thus allowing weeds to choke a majority of their remaining small crops.

McCall said, “There were not enough seeds to plant this year so the farmer’s crop will be much smaller than usual.”

He added, “People have sold all of their animals and many of the young people in the villages have gone to the towns to look for work. There will not be enough food from this year’s harvests and people do not have anything to fall back on.”

However, Christian Aid was quick to point out that the crisis is not just about food.

McCall told, “People are getting deeper and deeper into poverty. People are in debt as they take on loans to pay for food and seeds. Mothers cannot take their sick children to hospital because they cannot afford the cost of getting there and some of the women and girls who have left their villages to look for work in the towns have turned to prostitution to meet their basic needs, despite the risk of AIDS.”

The harvests are due to come in October in Niger, and until then, aid agencies working in the region will be focusing on the current food crisis.

However, Christian Aid are now trying to warn agencies that long term issues must be addressed urgently also.

McCall expressed his hope that after October work must quickly focus on income-creating projects such as small-scale market gardening or projects to help women set up their own small businesses.

He concluded, “Agencies must focus on breaking this cycle of crisis. If they do not, people will be in a worse situation this time next year.”