Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Niamey (Fides Service)- “At last international aid is helping to alleviate the suffering of the people of Niger” said Archbishop Michel Christian Cartateguy of Niamey, capital of Niger battling with a serious food shortage caused by drought and an invasion of locusts (see Fides 28 May 2005).
“Bags of rice are being distributed thanks to funds from the European Union and other donors. The government had promised to buy manioc but found it is not available in markets in neighbouring countries. It will be necessary to wait or find other suppliers” Archbishop Cartatéguy told Fides.
“The local Church was the first to warn of the food shortage and to offer emergency aid last year” the Archbishop of Niamey recalled. “In October 2004 I myself warned that the food situation was becoming gradually worse and I called on Caritas Internationalis to help. Since the crisis started in February this year the local Church has provided baisc food rations and given assistance to the needy”.
“Aid from the universal Church has been generous and important” Archbishop Cartatéguy told Fides. “We receive Aid from Caritas Internationalis, from national Caritas of France, Germany and Denmark in collaboration with the government in Copenaghen, as well as from the Italian Bishops’ Conference”. American aid agencies, Catholic Relief Services and USAID have a programme to fund the purchase of seeds for local farmers.
“The government of Niger has launched a very successful national campaign to collect to help the affected people. Neighbour countries are also offering aid, in food supplies and money. This is all important but international attentino must be kept high because the emergency is not over and many, including many children, are still dying for lack of food” the Archbishop concluded.
At the beginning of July the European Commission agreed to assign six million Euro to help people living in the Sahel desert region in Mali and Niger. The money will come from ECHO EU office for humanitarian aid and will go to help about 300,000 people in Niger and 110,000 in Mali. These funds are part of a long-term 2002-2007 plan adopted by Brussels to reduce poverty in these two countries: 392 million Euro for Mali and 332 million for Niger. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 6/7/2005 righe 36 parole 444)
