Niamey (Fides Service)- “The situation is more desperate that anyone could imagine and it threatens to become a catastrophe before the world realise what is happening” Fides Mgr Laurent Lompo from Niamey diocese in Niger, where a serious food shortage has been announced by the United Nations. UN humanitarian agencies warn that 4 of Niger’s 12 million people are in danger of starvation.
“But in fact things are even worse than described. Almost the entire population is at risk unless aid is provided immediately” Mgr Lompo told Fides. “An invasion of locusts last September and a period of serious drought produced a situation which is now desperate. The hot season has started and temperatures already reach 42 degrees centigrade. There is not a blade of grass anywhere and animals are dying of hunger and thirst”.
“The worst has yet to come” - Mgr Lompo said - “Experts have said that another swarm of locusts is about to hit Niger and this will destroy the little amount of food that remains”.
“Since the last report from international agencies the situation has already become worse” Mgr. Lompo said. “The food shortage has produced social chaos with people from rural areas moving en masse to towns and cities, the capital Niamey in particular. All these people have nowhere to go and they sleep in the streets. This creates serious difficulties for public order and encourages urban delinquency”.
“To make things worse in this situation of promiscuity people are more likely to be infected by diseases including AIDS. This is all the more likely because people who do not eat enough are more prone to infection” he said. Up to now the rate of infection of AIDS in Niger was relatively low, only 1% of the population.
“The Church in Niger is working with civil authorities to try to alleviate the people’s suffering. We are receiving aid from Caritas Internationalis and other Catholic aid agencies mainly European, but our means are a drop in the ocean of desperation. But what is needed is a major intervention by the international community. And without delay because the situation is getting worse every day” Mgr. Lompo concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 28/5/2005 righe 35 parole 412)