DAKAR (AlertNet) - Relief groups responding to a worsening food crisis in West Africa's Sahel region are likely to face a shortage of funds because donor attention is focused on Haiti,
aid agencies say.
At least 10 million people, particularly in Niger and Chad, risk severe hunger after irregular rainfall in 2009 led to poor harvests and fewer crops in parts of this arid region that runs
south of the Sahara desert.
"Donors have already indicated that the bulk of their resources were allocated to Haiti and that they may not have enough money for Niger," said Modibo Traore, the head of the U.N. Humanitarian Agency (OCHA) in Niger.
The earthquake that struck Haiti two months ago killed up to 300,000 people and left more than 1 million homeless.
Aid officials say the sudden and dramatic nature of Haiti disaster is likely to ensure continued media interest and funding, whereas the food crisis threatening Niger lacks the same level of attention because of its more gradual and
recurrent nature.
"The crisis in Haiti is really serious and requires support but it must also be noted that if this looming crisis in the Sahel is not well managed it may get to the extent of Haiti,"
Eric Hazard, Oxfam International's regional agriculture campaigns manager, told AlertNet in Dakar.
About half of Niger's 14 million inhabitants face the risk of moderate to severe food shortages, 2 million are at risk in Chad and substantial numbers of people could face the same situation in Mali, Burkina Faso and parts of northern Nigeria, according to Oxfam.
"Five years ago the world ignored the warning signs from Niger, failed to act rapidly and lives were lost. The international community cannot make the same mistake and again condemn many children to an early death," Mamadou Biteye Oxfam's West Africa Regional Director said in a statement.
SCALING UP FOOD AID
Niger which suffered from severe food shortages that affected 4 million people in 2005 has appealed for $123 million from the international community to support its response plan. The United Nations is, however, concerned that needs are even higher given that funding estimates were based on an assessment which did not cover most of the country.
The Chadian authorities are still to announce a financial assessment but have authorised international humanitarian groups to intervene in the country.
The U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) has approved food assistance to nearly 800,000 people in parts of Chad that have been hit by drought and urgently needs $65 million for the programme that will run until December.
WFP has stepped up its interventions to meet the additional needs in Niger and Chad which are expected to be worst hit by the food emergency and is confident about raising funds to react
to the looming crisis in the Sahel.
"We would expect donors to respond generously to any major food security problems in other parts of the world - beyond Haiti," Thomas Yanga, the regional director for West Africa of the U.N. World Food Programme said.
"In Niger, we are planning to provide food to an additional 850,000 people for the lean season period of March to October, and we are reviewing plans to more than double the number if needs increase," Yanga added.
The International Federation of the Red Cross Societies (IFRC), which drew from its emergency response funds to launch food security support to 300,000 people in Niger and 45,000 others in Chad, is also optimistic that donors would respond to appeals for help in the Sahel although their attention is on Haiti and Chile. It said is also confident about raising funds.
"We must remember that a lot of money that was donated to Haiti came from normal citizens, not all from the traditional donors such as government and development agencies," Terry Carney, the IFRC resource/relationship management coordinator for West and Central Africa told AlertNet. "We just have to get the donorsÂ? attention."
Click here for a Q+A on hunger in West Africa's Sahel region
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
