West Africa Food Crisis: Chad drought

In 2010, Chad faced a food crisis after a year of poor rains and crop failure. Thanks to donations from the public, Oxfam was able to respond to the crisis across West Africa. In total, over 70,000 people in Chad were supported with food as well as seeds for the next harvest.

Parched land as a result of drought in Chad. [Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno]

The drought hit hardest in the Sahelian regions of Kanem, Bahr-El-Gazal, Hajer Lamis, Bastha and Guéra, Chad.

 

Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno

 

West Africa Food Crisis

West Africa Food Crisis

Information about Oxfam's response

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A couple stand by their empty granary. [Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno]

Family granaries were empty. There was no surplus food, and no animals to sell.

 

Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno

 

Women sell scarce food at market. [Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno]

The prices in markets rose exorbitantly due to high demand and short supply of cereals, especially millet, the staple food.

 

Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno

 

A woman collects firewood. [Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno]

Despite a ban on the collection of firewood, people still found wood to sell, in order to earn money to buy essential food.

 

Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno

 

A mother and child affected by the drought in Chad. [Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno]

In Chad as many as one in four children were malnourished. In total the food crisis affected up to 2 million people – 18% of the population.

 

Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno

 

Women digging for ants in Djay. [Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno]

In Djay, women dug the earth to find the queen ant and collect all the seeds and grains that the ants store in their anthills.

 

Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno

 

A herder with his weakened animal. [Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno]

The lack of rain forced the herders and animals to travel greater distances to find pasture, weakening the animals and increasing their death rate.

 

Find out more about the West Africa Food Crisis

 

Photo: Cristina Vázquez Moreno

 

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