Madagascar

Tsiory does some tricky calculations at school.

Copyright: WFP/Narindra Raharijaona

School Meals Under Threat In Madagascar

Around the world, WFP's school meals programme helps improve students’ performance in class and reduce their drop-out rate. But underfunding has led to cutbacks in Madagascar. This is the story of their impact on two of the island’s children.

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Overview

Madagascar is the fourth biggest island on earth and, because of its relative geographical isolation off the east coast of Africa, much of its flora and fauna exists nowhere else on earth. It is ranked as a low income country, 151st out of 187 countries in the UNDP 2012 Human Development Index.

More than 77 percent of the country's 21 million inhabitants are estimated to live below the national poverty line and more than half (57 percent) live in extreme poverty.

The island is prone to natural disasters including cyclones, flooding and locust invasion.

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Locusts on the Move

Madagascar is currently facing a locust plague - the worst in more than half a century. It could have a severe impact on agricultural production and pasture for livestock. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, more than half the population could be at risk from hunger as a result of the plant-devouring insects which have been swarming in their billions over much of the island.

Copyright: WFP/Robert Guiradoubaye

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