UN seeks more funds to avert Sahel food crisis
Thursday, 22 July 2010
UNITED NATIONS, July 21 (AFP): UN relief coordinator John Holmes pleaded for increased aid from donors yesterday to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Africa's drought-hit Sahel region.
The outgoing head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said more than 229 million dollars was still needed to respond to the crisis in Niger, the worst hit of the countries in the region.
Donors have so far either committed or delivered more than 142 million dollars.
Some 7.1 million people, roughly 47 per cent of the Niger's population, is facing food insecurity, Holmes said, citing an April survey.
Malnutrition has also significantly increased, with a June survey showing a global acute malnutrition prevalence exceeding 15 per cent, up from 12.3 per cent last year.
Over 300,000 children under the age of five are said to be at risk of acute malnutrition in Niger, including 20 per cent who will suffer medical complications, OCHA said.
In neighboring Chad, Holmes said donors had so far only pledged 45 per cent of the 542 million dollars requested and that 1.6 million people face food insecurity and malnutrition.
Another 600,000 people in Mali and 300,000 in Mauritania are similarly at risk.
UN officials point out that last year's poor rains have resulted in a 30 per cent decline in cereal output in Niger compared with 2008, while production of food for livestock is 62 per cent below requirements.
Food prices also remain high, despite a decline from a peak in 2008.
Holmes, a Briton who is to step down late next month as UN humanitarian chief, underscored the need for an urgent and coordinated response from the international community to tackle the emergency.
The outgoing head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said more than 229 million dollars was still needed to respond to the crisis in Niger, the worst hit of the countries in the region.
Donors have so far either committed or delivered more than 142 million dollars.
Some 7.1 million people, roughly 47 per cent of the Niger's population, is facing food insecurity, Holmes said, citing an April survey.
Malnutrition has also significantly increased, with a June survey showing a global acute malnutrition prevalence exceeding 15 per cent, up from 12.3 per cent last year.
Over 300,000 children under the age of five are said to be at risk of acute malnutrition in Niger, including 20 per cent who will suffer medical complications, OCHA said.
In neighboring Chad, Holmes said donors had so far only pledged 45 per cent of the 542 million dollars requested and that 1.6 million people face food insecurity and malnutrition.
Another 600,000 people in Mali and 300,000 in Mauritania are similarly at risk.
UN officials point out that last year's poor rains have resulted in a 30 per cent decline in cereal output in Niger compared with 2008, while production of food for livestock is 62 per cent below requirements.
Food prices also remain high, despite a decline from a peak in 2008.
Holmes, a Briton who is to step down late next month as UN humanitarian chief, underscored the need for an urgent and coordinated response from the international community to tackle the emergency.