Oxfam Ireland welcomes Irish government donation for Niger
July 21st 2005
With more than three million people, including almost a million children,
facing starvation in Niger, Oxfam Ireland welcomed today's pledge by the
Irish government of one million euro for the crisis.
"The situation is desperate. Even the limited food that is available has
soared in price rendering it unaffordable for most families and there is no
hope of any harvest for at least three months. Families are feeding their
children grass and leaves from the trees to keep them alive," said Nick
Ireland, Oxfam's Regional Humanitarian Coordinator.
Oxfam is already at work in Niger, protecting people's livelihoods through
food-for-work programmes and helping people manage strategic sale of their
livestock. Owners receive a fair price for their least-healthy animals,
allowing them to buy
fodder for those that remain. As the crisis escalates, Oxfam experts in
Niger are setting up a $2 million food support programme. Vouchers will be
distributed to 130,000 people which can be traded for food with local
traders. Plans are also in place to help 28,000 nomadic herders to buy new
animals for a fair price.
The World Food Programme (WFP) increased its appeal on July 12th asking for
a further $12 million to help the people in Niger to make it through the
next three months. The UN emergency appeal for $18.3 million, launched in
May, remains less than a quarter funded. Between them, the appeals are two
thirds under-funded, with a total funding shortfall of $26.5m.
"The people affected by this crisis need money now. Every day that the world
's richest countries look the other way, more people face starvation," added
Mr. Ireland.
Last year's locust invasion and rain failure during the agricultural season
have plunged nomadic herder and farming families into crisis. Emaciated
livestock, worth nothing, cannot be sold. The price of cereals has more than
doubled and no staple foods are available in the markets.
Notes to Editors:
The UN emergency flash appeal for Niger for $18.3 million was launched in
May 2005. It remains less than a quarter funded, with a shortfall of $14.7m.
Oxfam is responding to food crises that are also emerging in Zimbabwe,
Zambia and Malawi and is calling on the international community to respond
before they reach an acute stage.
To arrange an interview with Nick Ireland, Oxfam's Regional Humanitarian
Coordinator, contact Claire Guenard, tel. (01) 6727662.
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