Click here to see where InterAction members are working in the region. Source: Food Security Aid Map
After erratic rains in 2011, the Sahel region in West Africa is suffering from severe drought for the third time in the last decade. More than 18.7 million people lack access to sufficient food and more than 1 million children under the age of 5 are at risk of dying from malnutrition. Malnutrition will not only affect these children now, but it could potentially jeopardize their development and futures.
Previous droughts in 2005 and 2010 weakened vulnerable households’ ability to cope. Across the region cereal production has fallen 26 percent since last year, while food prices have rocketed. Shrinking pastoral land makes feeding livestock difficult.
In Mali, conflict, political instability, forced displacement of populations and human rights violations have all contributed to the worsening of an already tenuous situation for innocent civilians. Refugees from Mali have been pouring over the border into regions with already scarce resources.
In Northern Nigeria, ethnic and political strife have increased insecurity to a point where it is difficult to access people in need.
The UN estimates that $1.6 billion will be needed to needs to address the Sahel crisis, but so far only half of this has been received. The U.S. government committed more than $308 million in Fiscal Year 2012. With proper funding and support, a crisis in the Sahel can be averted.
NOTE: This page was last updated August 21, 2012.
Country Facts |
Burkina Faso
- Over 2 million people are food insecure.¹
- Severe malnutrition affects 99,000 children under the age of 5.¹
- Conflict has driven 61,000 Malian refugees across the border. Most of the refugees are in the north, where resources are already strained. ²
- Local millet is 85 percent above the five-year average. In May 2011, a 100 kg bag of millet cost $28; in May 2012, the same bag costs $49;
putting it out of price for poor families. ³
Working There: ACDI/VOCA, Action Against Hunger, CRS, HKI, IRD, LWR, Oxfam, Plan International USA, Refugees International, Save the Children, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP
Chad
- About 3.6 million people suffering from food insecurity.¹
- Crop production dropped 49 percent since 2010.²
- The UN identified $10 million as needed to respond to crisis in Chad but so far just a little more than half has been raised.³
Working There: Action Against Hunger, CARE, Concern Worldwide, CRS, International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, IRD, Oxfam, UNICEF, World Concern, WFP, World Vision
Mali
- About 1.8 million people are food insecure.¹
- Severe malnutrition affects 175,000 children under the age of 5.¹
- Because of conflict in the north monitoring remains difficult, but initial reports indicate that cereal prices are up 300 percent in Gao.²
- Inside Mali there are around 200,000 internally displaced persons, with 190,000 Malian refugees in surrounding countries.³
- Crisis response is only 27 percent funded. ⁴
Working There: ACDI/VOCA, Action Against Hunger, CARE, CRS, HKI, International Rescue Committee, IRD, LWR, Oxfam, Plan International USA, Save the Children, UNICEF, WFP, World Vision
Mauritania
- More than 1 million people are food insecure – a quarter of rural households.¹
- There are 64,000 Malian refugees in Mauritania and resources there are scarce.²
- So far humanitarian aid is reaching only one in 10 people.³
Working There: Action Against Hunger, Counterpart International, IRD, Oxfam, Save the Children, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, World Vision
Niger
- Roughly 6.4 million people are food insecure, with 331,000 children under the age of 5 suffering from acute malnutrition. ¹
- So far, 41,000 Malian refugees have crossed over the border to Niger.²
- One of world’s poorest countries.³
- Food prices have increased 50 percent since 2011. ⁴
Working There: Action Against Hunger, CARE, Counterpart International, Concern Worldwide, CRS, HKI, International Rescue Committee, IRD, LWR, Oxfam, Plan International USA, Refugees International, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, World Vision
N. Nigeria
- Severe malnutrition affects more than 200,000 children under the age of 5. ¹
- Nigerian government has restricted exports of coarse grain to stop food leaving country. ²
- Nigeria supplies half of West Africa’s cereal needs. ³
Working There: UNICEF
The Gambia
- Approximately 1.4 million people are food insecure. ¹
- Crop production decreased an average of 62 percent since 2010, while some crop varieties decreased 81 percent. Crop production has not been this low since 1980.¹
- Cereal production dropped from 56 percent from 2010-2011.²
Senegal
- About 740,000 people are food insecure. ¹
- Estimated that $5 million needed in assistance, but only $2.4 million has been received. ²
- Local cereal prices up 26-31 percent from 2011. ³
Working There: Counterpart International, CRS, IRD, Oxfam, UNICEF, WFP, World Vision
Trips For Journalists |
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Media Trips to Burkina Faso Catholic Relief Services is always willing to work with reporters in the field to facilitate their travel. Contact Kim Pozniak and Helen Blakesley. Oxfam program visits are possible to Burkina Faso (Kaya, Djibo). Contact Maura Hart.
Save the Children can facilitate trips to northern Burkina Faso. Contact Lane Hartill.
Media Trips to Chad International Medical Corps may be able to host visiting journalists in Chad, depending on the size of the visiting group and the conditions on the ground. Please contact Margaret Aguirre. The International Rescue Committee can host journalists in Chad, with accommodations in guest houses and transportation support in drought-affected regions. Contact Melissa Winkler. Oxfam program visits are possible to Chad (Mongo, Moussoro). Contact Maura Hart. World Concern can host journalists in Chad with accommodations and field transportation from Goz Beida to surrounding villages. Contact Cathy Herholdt. Media Trips to Niger CARE can host journalists in Niger.Contact Rodrigo Ordonez. Concern Worldwide can arrange field visits to Tahoua, Niger, one of the most affected areas. Contact Crystal Wells. Counterpart International welcomes program visits in the hard-hit Matam region of Niger. Contact Michael Zamba. The International Rescue Committee can organize trips to programs in Niger. Contact Melissa Winkler. Oxfam program visits are possible to Niger (Agadez, Tillabery region). Contact Maura Hart. Other Countries Counterpart International program visits are possible in Cameroon, Senegal and Mauritania. Contact Michael Zamba. International Rescue Committee can organize trips to programs in Mali. Contact Melissa Winkler. Oxfam program visits are possible in the following areas: Mali (Kayes), Mauritania (Boghé, Kaédi), Senegal (Koldo, Kedougou). Contact Maura Hart. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is always willing to work with reporters, and can help facilitate visits to the affected countries in the Sahel region, depending on the conditions on the ground. Please contact Susannah Masur. UNHCR will discuss potential trips for journalists. Please contact Charity Tooze. |
Experts |
| Experts on Agriculture: | Experts on Conflicts and Refugees: | |
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Dr. Evariste Karangwa JoAnne Yeager Sallah Scott Webb Silke Pietzsch Scott Killough, Ph.D. Stacey Crevello
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Alice Thomas Bill Slocum Bob Kitchen Nathaniel Hurd Mark Yarnell Richard Owens Timothy Bishop Tom McCormack |
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| Experts on Emergencies: | Experts on the Sahel in General: | |
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Ann Canavan Britt Lake Dominic MacSorley Edmond Saluku Hanna Taylor Iris Knuppel Jean-Philippe Debus Kevin McNulty Marion Dol Paul O’Brien Rang Hee Kim Unni Krishnan |
Alissa Karg Benoit Delsarte Felix Leger Jean-Marie Adrian Johannes Schoors Lucille Grosjean Mark Wentling Rheal Drisdelle Sanjayan Srikanthan Susannah Masur Tasha Gill Moustapha Niang |
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| Experts on Nutrition: | ||
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Dr. Alain Toe Altrena Mukuria Caroline Abla Cecile Basquin Diane DeBernardo Jennifer Burns Josephine Trenchard |
Leila Bourahla World Vision Rick Leach Shawn Baker Stien Gijsel Victoria Quinn |
B-Roll Videos |
Journalists are encouraged to use the following pictures and videos for your stories. Please give appropriate credit to the photographers and organizations.
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Oxfam warns of West Africa drought 'catastrophe' |
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Burkina Gold shared |
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Intermón Oxfam - Crisis alimentaria en el Sahel |
Niger
Niger Food Crisis
Footage shot for Save the Children in Maradi, Niger in May, 2012. |
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Children in Mali Face Starvation
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Supplies Delivered in Mauritania |
Mali
Mauritania
Image Gallery - (Click here to View Full Gallery) |
Journalists are encouraged to use the following pictures and videos for your stories. Please give appropriate credit to the photographers and organizations.
