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Oxfam launches £1 million appeal for West Africa Food Crisis.
Three million people, including a million children, are facing starvation in Niger. Oxfam has launched a £1 million appeal for the West Africa Food Crisis.
"The situation is desperate," said Natasha Kafoworola Quist, Oxfam's Regional Director for West Africa. "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.
Rain failure and locust invasion last year has devastated farms and food sources. Emaciated livestock, worth nothing, cannot be sold.
Make a donation
For online donations to The West Africa Food Crisis Appeal go to the Oxfam website.
Livestock are in competition with the locusts for food which can devour its own weight, 2g, in fresh food in a day. In a day a tiny swarm eats the same amount of food as 2,500 people.
Oxfam food support programme
Oxfam experts in Niger are setting up a $2 million food support programme.
How it works
"Oxfam's programme is saving lives but in the face of the level of need, this is just a drop in the ocean. Almost four million people need food aid now. The UN appeals need immediate funding to ensure that all those in need receive help," said Ms Quist.
International aid shortfall
The international community has pledged only one third of the money needed to tackle the crisis.
Together, appeals by the The World Food Programme (WFP) and UN emergency appeal are still two thirds under-funded, with a total funding shortfall of $26.5m.
"The people effected by this crisis need money now. Every day that the world's richest countries look the other way, more people face starvation," added Quist.
Oxfam is also responding to food crises that are also emerging Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. It is calling on the international community to respond before they reach an acute stage.
External sites
Go to the BBC site for pictures of the food camps and locust invasion
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