Niger
Since 2009 there has been an irregular rainfall pattern across west Africa
with an estimated seven million people at risk in Niger alone. This lack of
rainfall has effected the harvest badly, estimated to be down around 30% on the
previous year, but alarmingly, in places like the Diffa in the east of country
and Tillabéry to the west, there has been no harvest at all. Five thousand years ago the land that is now known as the Republic of Niger was fertile grassland, but today, following
millennia of desertification, 80% of the land locked country is covered by the Sahara desert.
The country had a long experience of European exploration with it
becoming a French colony in 1922 until achieving independence on April 3rd
1960. Since then, Niger has had a succession of unstable governments, either
single party or military, with the latest coup occurring in 2010. Such
instability has done little to address the enormous challenges facing Niger
and its peoples; challenges including famine, lack of rainfall and poor
harvests and poor access to education or health services.
Like in so many of
the poorer African nations, the average is is just 15 years old, with just
under half the population being aged 0 -14 years old. Life expectancy is
around 53yrs and over 10% die of all children die at birth. Those who
survive are at risk of sexual exploitation and human trafficking for
enforced begging, enforced working in in gold mines, domestic servitude and
also for working in agriculture and stone quarries.
It is against this
backdrop Mamadou Biteye Oxfam’s West Africa Regional Director described the
developing crisis: " We are witnessing an unfolding disaster which can be
averted if the world acts swiftly. Five years ago the world ignored the
warning signs from Niger, failed to act rapidly and lives were lost. The
international community cannot make the same mistake and again condemn many
children to an early death." There are many charities you can contact to make a donation to help avert the
crisis in Niger, below are listed a few of them.
Donate to Oxfam
Donate to Unicef
Donate to Save the Children
For all the latest news from Niger click here for our news service.
