Warning of famine in West Africa (Niger/Chad)

[Hannah Bell]

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warns that 10 million people across the Sahel region of West Africa could face famine over the next few months...eight million in Niger could be affected and two million in Chad. Some 80 percent of Chad’s population depends on subsistence agriculture...

Warnings of a possible food emergency have been sounded since the beginning of the year. Brian O’Neill, regional director of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Organisation, toured the area in January.

He said, “Erratic rains in the 2009/2010 agricultural season have resulted in an enormous deficit in food production….He estimated that more than US$220 million would be needed to avert a food crisis. A leaked Niger government document confirmed O’Neill’s concerns. It forecast that half the population would experience food shortages in the coming year.

A UN Food and Agricultural Organisation special alert notice was issued on May 19. It warned, “The food situation is of grave concern in parts of the Sahel, notably in Niger”. It pointed out that the region is still suffering from high prices sparked by speculation in food in 2008. It noted that the current drop in cereal and pasture production is taking place “against a backdrop of high food prices”...

Recent government agricultural schemes have failed, because the funds have been siphoned off to corrupt politicians. Nigeria could be feeding the region. Instead, it is the world’s second largest importer of food. Those who can afford expensive imported foods will be untouched by the famine, and some will profit from it, but the majority of the population, who live on less than $2 a day, will face serious hardship...

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/jun2010/afri-j11.shtml


Continuing collateral damage from the world speculative bubble of 2008...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8532640

thank you goldman & morgan!

[UndertheOcean]

1. We should abolish all money , ration all resources equally between the people of the world , that is

the only ethical thing to do.

It is crazy that there are Grotesquely OBESE people in the 1st world and people in Africa are dying of hunger.

[opihimoimoi]

2. OMG...the Famines are becoming larger and soon will be more frequent

Food will be the new gold

[dipsydoodle]

3. Not help by the fact

The country is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world; most Chadians live in poverty as subsistence herders and farmers. Since 2003 crude oil has become the country's primary source of export earnings, superseding the traditional cotton industry.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad

If they're that poor then with a high level of corruption they don't really stand a chance.x(

[Hannah Bell]

4. "most corrupt" - according to forbes magazine. lol.

as if the other western pawns on the continent were any better. but they're anglo pawns instead of french ones.

http://freeuganda.com/?p=600