West Africa Food Crisis

On the ground

Irregular rains in 2009 have led to a severe lack of pasture and water and a poor harvest across West Africa. The worst affected country is Niger where over 7 million people are at risk. Some 2 million people are threatened in Chad and an estimated further 629,000 are affected in Mali. Parts of Nigeria and Burkina Faso are also at risk.

In pictures: drought in Chad

On film: Channel 4 report from West Africa

Video courtesy of Channel 4 News

Falling harvests

In Niger, the harvest has fallen by 30% compared with the previous year, and some areas, especially the Diffa in the east of country and Tillabéry to the west, have had no harvest at all.

In Chad, harvests have fallen by 34%. The areas of Hadjer Lamis, Batha, Kanem, Guera regions and eastern Chad are expected to be hit hard, especially from June 2010. Overall, the harvest in the Sahel has decreased by 9% with great disparities between East and West Sahel.

Blog: Soon there will no longer be enough anthills for everyone

  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.

Mamadou Biteye Oxfam’s West Africa Regional Director

Blog: water scarcity causing food insecurity in Mali

With your help we can save lives:

• will vaccinate 10 cows or goats for a year
  
  
• will buy a weak goat as part of a restocking project
  
  
• will feed a family for a month

Oxfam in action

Oxfam has launched an emergency programme to provide support to 220,000 people in Niger, 250,000 people in Mali and 200,000 people in Chad.

You can help: Donate to Oxfam's West Africa Food Crisis response

In the most vulnerable regions of Niger, especially in the Maradi, Tahoua, Tillabéry and Zinder regions, we are distributing food and supplies to the poorest households and schoolchildren, protecting livestock and buying weak livestock from herders at above market levels.

We have reached over 66,000 people through a voucher scheme that enables recipients to cover their basic needs, and have distributed nearly 700 tonnes of animal feed to support livestock.

Particularly important in the current crisis is the early warning system developed by our partners in Niger and broadcasted on rural radio networks. This gives cattle herders the information they need to act quickly.

In Mali, we will be distributing food and animal feed to people worst affected by the crisis.

In Chad, Oxfam has distributed food and seeds, and running agricultural and livelihood support projects. We have also helped rehabilitate and maintain water points, and have carried out hygiene promotion.

Oxfam has worked in the Sahel region for decades, developing sustainable solutions to tackle the root causes of food shortages such as creating cereal and fodder banks, promoting income diversification as well as education and literacy.

Find out how we responded to the food crisis in 2005

Update: August 2010