Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Niamey (Fides Service)- In Niger 2.7 million people are in danger of dying of hunger in an ongoing serious food crisis due to prolonged drought. In a detailed report Caritas Niger says that despite recent rainfall at least 1,905 farming villages face serious food shortage in the coming months.
“The impact on health was certainly underestimated. Most aid agencies concentrate on food supplies overlooking the health risk connected with malnutrition” the report said. Hunger causes malaria (224,221 cases, 327 mortal in first 6 months of this year); cholera (99 cases, 10 of them mortal up to 31 August); meningitis (1,036 cases, 115 lethal); measles(1,582 cases with 10 deaths).
The local Catholic community and Caritas are in front line to help the people. Caritas Niger has launched a plan with various points: distribution of free food supplies; operation “food for work” feeling farmers who return to coltivate the fields after the rain. This helps reduce dependency on outside aid and encourges solidarity and social unity. The programme helps farmers build stone dykes to keep the rain water. Point 3 consists of 760 feedong centres opened by the government with the collaboration of international aid organisations. This programme has already distributed 700 tons of food supplies.
The programmes are supported by committees for development and solidarity promoted by the local Church. In August Bishop Michel Christian Cartatéguy of Niamey and Bishop Ambroise Quédrago of Maradi held two day meeting with those responsible for Church aid to discuss intiatives.
It emerged from the meeting that Caritas Niger collaborates with UNICEF to supply feeding centres. Caritas guarantees supplies of cerals, baby milk and recruitment of humanitarian personnel. Caritas Niger is in contact with World Food Programme and Red Cross international local offices in Niger. Caritas is working with WFP to distribute over 2,000 tons of cerals, legumes and oil in two dioceses.
Caritas intends also to start programmes to rebuild the faming system and social tissue on the basis of four questions: how can a food crisis be prevented? How can farming be improved? What are alternative crops to cereals sorgo, millet, difficult to grow in areas at risk of drought? How to deal with malnutrition among children aggravated by food crisis? Our solutions included: rebuilding food security; rebuilding farm infrastructures (seed, wells, barns etc.); alternating production and improving water management; improving feeding centres and opening food processing factories. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/9/2005 righe 46 parole 568)
