Identified as one of the poorest countries in the world (176th / 177 countries*), Niger now faces a food shortage of unprecedented proportions. Situated in the heart of the Saharan Desert, the region has suffered for decades from droughts, and food shortages have in recent times worsened drastically. In this nation, where harvests are consumed mainly by farming families themselves, only a third of the fields received sufficient rainfall (around 400mm/year) to cultivate crops.
A late start to the agricultural season of 2004, combined with the stoppage in rainfall and widespread locust attacks, has devastated this year’s harvests. According to estimates, 223,000 tons of food are still required to cover the needs of the entire population.
Today nearly 3 millions of Niger citizens are suffering from hunger.
Children are particularly vulnerable among the threatened inhabitants. Besides missing nutritional necessities, children are also without their education and learning opportunities. The massive exodus of populations in search of water and food, together with the necessity to have children contribute to the harvest effort have caused a tremendous drop in 2005-2006 school attendance.
Active in Niger since 1988 in food aid as well as educational missions, the Aide and Action team have reinforced its on-going operations with education support programs in the regions most in need: Doutchi, Filignué, Loga, Quallam and Mirrah.
Program :
- Established a network of 200 tutors, to guarantee vulnerable children an adequate learning environment and a chance to pursue their studies
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(*) Source PNUD
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