Sahel region in West Africa faces serious food crisis
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severe food shortages face Niger's most vulnerable citizens: WFP
The Sahel region of West Africa is facing a serious food crisis due to drought, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).
The agency says it is particularly concerned about the situation in Niger, Mauritania, Mali and Chad.
Charles Appel reports.
The World Food Programme (WFP) says that the increasing frequency of droughts in the Sahel region has given communities little time to recover from previous food crises.
As a result, household savings have been depleted and livestock herds decimated.
So far, Niger, Mauritania and Mali have requested international assistance to cope with the food crisis.
In Niger, the World Food Programme is increasing food aid, especially for women and children, after the government warned that the number of people facing severe food shortages could increase from 750,000 to one million by January.
The World Food Programme is also concerned about Chad, Senegal, the Gambia, Burkina Faso and northern Nigeria.
Charles Appel, United Nations
Duration: 45"
