West Africa Food Crisis
Low rainfall, poor harvests, high food prices and a lack of pasture are all causing serious problems across the Sahel region, that could lead to a serious food crisis later this year.
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In pictures: Early warning systems suggest that millions of people in Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso are at risk of a serious food crisis in 2012.
In Mauritania, communities are suffering as a result of poor rains, especially in rural areas in the south. Aliyin Would Eleiat, the head of a village in the region of Gorgol, shows one of the few wells that still has water. This well is the main source of water for the 75 families who live in this community.
Photo: Irina Fuhrmann
Millions of people across West Africa are at risk of a serious food crisis.
Early warning systems have identified a range of factors that could lead to a serious food crisis in 2012. Low rainfall and water levels, poor harvests and lack of pasture, high food prices and a drop in remittances from migrants are all causing serious problems.
Reports suggest 6 million people in Niger and 2.9 million people in Mali live in areas vulnerable to the coming crisis, while in Mauritania 700,000 people – over one-quarter of the population – are reported as at risk of severe food insecurity. In Burkina Faso, official estimates are to be released soon and are likely to include over two million people at risk of being directly affected. In Chad, 13 out of 22 regions could be affected by food insecurity.
According to national early warning systems, cereal production is down compared to the five year average, with Mauritania and Chad showing deficits of over 50% compared to last year. National food reserves are dangerously low, while prices of some key cereals are up to 40% higher than the five year average.
Mamadou Biteye, Oxfam Humanitarian Lead in West Africa, said: "The situation is looking extremely worrying for millions of people in West Africa, but the worst is not yet inevitable. The crisis has been identified early, and we know that there are cost-effective measures that can be taken now to protect those most vulnerable. This time we can act before the emergency hits."
The Sahel region of West Africa last experienced a major food crisis in 2010, which affected ten million people. Biteye added: "People are still recovering from the last crisis in 2010 and are incredibly vulnerable to any extra shocks such as rising food prices, poor harvests or the death of their animals. These people need help now to build their resilience before next year. Acting early could make a huge difference.”
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Oxfam is gearing up its work to address immediately the needs of the most vulnerable people. We're working to help communities increase their resilience to the coming crisis, and we are getting ready to provide food assistance.
In Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso, Oxfam teams are conducting assessments to identify the people and families most affected. These assessments will help us plan the best way to help. For example, in areas where there is food available but prices are high, we may give vouchers or cash which enable people to buy food. In areas where people rely on their animals for income and security, we can ensure animals stay healthy with veterinary care and by distributing animal fodder.
In many areas, Oxfam has already been working with communities to increase their resilience to the coming crisis:
- in Burkina Faso, Oxfam is working with the support of ECHO (the Humanitarian Aid department of the European Commission) to help 50,000 people access food.
- in the Gorgol region of Mauritania, 1,300 women, as part of cooperatives, are benefitting from irrigation systems which pump water from the river for their vegetable gardens.
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Cheikh Tijani lives in the middle of a plain that should be used as pasture for animals, but lack of rain means the pasture is scarce. "Pastoralists are coming from other regions of Mauritania and even neighboring countries in search of the little grass that is left. But the grass is now yellow, and many [pastoralists] have been forced to migrate [with their animals] five months ahead of schedule. If we do not get food for cattle, we will lose our only source of income," he explains.
Photo: Irina Fuhrmann
Soudre Amado is a farmer in Burkina Faso, where the rainy season has been poor. This year, he had to plant five times because the short rains caused the seeds to dry out before they could grow. He was only able to cultivate a small field of sorghum, and now he worries about how he will feed his children in the coming months.
Photo: Irina Fuhrmann
Pauline and Jean-Baptiste Rimpaogoba Novilara are rice farmers in Burkina Faso. Their field is completely dry and they may be forced to sell the few animals that they have in order to buy food for their family. "Unless we get some kind of help, we are not going to move forward," explains Jean-Baptiste.
Photo: Irina Fuhrmann
Other crops have also suffered from the lack of water. The groundnuts that Animata Sani has been able to harvest are too small to be sold. Her husband has gone to the city in search of paid work to support the family. About 58% of households in rural areas are unable to meet their food needs.
Photo: Irina Fuhrmann
Crops have also been damaged by pests. Goutrane Saleh, a farmer and father of eight children in northern Chad, explains that his crops – which were already affected by the lack of rain – were then ravaged by locusts and beetles. "Right now we survive through the purchase of cereal on the market but our purchasing power is very small. Fonio (wild grain) used to prepare porridge for children is about to run out.” In order to support his family, he plans to travel to the capital, N'djamena, to find work.
Photo: Oxfam
Fatna Bakhit lives in the village of Kouzi Wahid in northern Chad. This year’s harvest was poor and she lost most of her crops. Her husband has left the village to look for work. Fatna received seeds and gardening tools from Oxfam. She is using these to grow tomatoes, watermelons, turnips, onions and melons to support herself and her two year old son. "I'm counting on the market gardening, which will help me to fill the gap made by the harvest deficit. Thanks to the tools and seeds that I have received from Oxfam, I am not lacking work. When this effort bears fruit, I will be able to take care of my small family whilst awaiting support from my husband", she says.
Photo: Oxfam
Early warning systems suggest that millions of people West Africa are at risk of a serious food crisis in 2012. Oxfam is supporting some of the most vulnerable communities in the region to help them prepare for the crisis. For example we’re providing seeds and tools to grow vegetables to compensate for poor harvests, and animal fodder and vet care to help keep animals alive and healthy. We urgently need your help. Please donate now to Oxfam’s West Africa food crisis response.
Photo: Oxfam
