Niger and Mali Famine

Children queue to receive food handouts at a Muslim Hands feeding camp just outside the Niger capital Niamey.

Silent Hunger

Niger is suffering its worst food crisis since 1984, with 3.5 million people facing starvation and children dying every day. MH has allocated over £350,000 to the region and teams from MH Sudan and Gambia are on the ground. Alhamdulillah, already more than 100 tonnes of staple food has been distributed to over 40,000 people, however the scale of the problem is vast and much remains to be done.

The current famine, which is also affecting other parts of Africa such as Mali and Mauritania has been caused by poor rains, an invasion of locusts and inaction by the world's governement.

» Timeline of Events

» Famine Appeal Video (opens new window)

» Field Updates

» About MH Emergency Relief

To date Muslim Hands has helped thousands of families and established several food warehouses in some of the worst-hit regions. The situation in both Niger & Mali is still extremely severe and things will not ease until the arrival of the next harvest in early 2006.

What We've Achived

• Over 100 tonnes of rice and maize distributed.
• Over 500 families supplied with meat via the MH Sadaqah Sacrifice Service.
• Four large ground wells have been dug in the Managa-Ize area, 100 miles from the capital.
• Food nutrition centres established in the worst-hit areas.
• Food warehouses with stocks of grain and rice established in four provinces.

What's Planned

Throughout the month of Ramadhan and at least until early 2006 Muslim Hands will continue with the distribution of food aid and the running of nutritional feeding centres.

Deep water wells are being dug to cover immediate needs and in preparation for the harvest. Medical care will also be provided and medicines to protect against malaria and various waterborne diseases distributed.

At the end of current assesments and towards the end of the year teams in Niger and Mali will evaluate longer term needs and develop a strategy for continuing to help people in these two of the world's poorest countries.

News and Press Releases

• Food Distribution in Niger -- 27 Jul, 05
• Muslim Hands Launches Niger and Mali Famine Appeal -- 19 Jul, 05

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