Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Maradi/Aachen (Fides Service) - “The situation is very serious” said Bishop Ambroise Ouédraogo of Maradi in Niger with regard to the food shortage in his country. An invasion of locusts followed by severe and prolonged drought ruined many harvests and the people of his diocese have almost nothing to eat. Moved by this disaster the Holy Childhood office in Germany also known as ‘Sternsinger’ (the door to door Christmas carol collection for the missions) said it has made 50,000 Euro available to the diocese of Ma radi to help children in need.
“We already have programmes to ensure schooling, particularly for little girls and this must continue so half the alloted sum will be for this sector. The other half will fund a feeding programme in our schools ” the Bishop said explaining how this welcome sum will be employed. “Of course emergency aid is necesary but not enough. The country needs long term aid to guarantee children enough food and also schooling in view of improving living conditions in general” said Peter Förg in charge of Public Relations and Education for Holy Childhood Germany.
In Niger 85% of the people are illiterate and only 15-20% of the children attend school. Very few children can read and write. In fact with an average monthly income of about 38 Euro not many families can afford to pay school fees. Maradi diocese has a community of 3,000 Catholics gathered in seven parishes. It runs its own schools for 2,000 pupils most of them Muslim children.. (MS) (Agenzia Fides, 28/07/2005- righe 21, parole 261)
