World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin travelled to the Maradi area of Niger to see how families there were coping with the drought which has affected 10 million people across the Sahel region of Africa.

WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin travelled to the Maradi area of Niger to see how families there were coping with the drought which has affected 10 million people across the Sahel region of Africa.

The drought has taken a heavy toll in this part of the country, where some 7 percent of the population is estimated to be severely food insecure.

 

The drought has taken a heavy toll in this part of the country, where some 7 percent of the population is estimated to be severely food insecure.

"The hungry poor – whether- small holder farmers or pastoralists – face a situation where savings are exhausted and there has been no opportunity to rebuild livestock herds," said the Executive Director in a statement from Niger.

Read the statement http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/statement-humanitarian-crisis-niger-executive-director-wfp-ertharin-cousin-and-un-
 

A WFP "food-for-work" scheme is helping families through the drought by providing them food while they work on projects to help make their farmland more productive.

One such project involves the digging of "half-moons", which help to conserve water for crops, fruit trees and even livestock.

Some 397 women in this village are involved in the "food-for-work" project, which is providing their families with sorely needed food and nutrition while helping them to build long-term food security for their community.