Famine in Niger: How You Can Help Feed the Starving
July 27, 2005
An invasion of locusts and a severe drought has left over 3.5 million people in the already impoverished country of Niger starving and in desperate need of food. The United Nations estimates that upwards of 800,000 children could die if aid does not reach them soon.
As news of this famine spreads many people are looking for a way to help alleviate the suffering and prevent more unnecessary loss of life. Donating to a U.S.-based charity responding to this humanitarian crisis is one way you can make a difference in the lives of the starving people in Niger.
Many of the charities working to alleviate the suffering of the starving people of Niger are rated highly by Charity Navigator. Highly rated charities are those that have demonstrated exceptional financial management, outperforming most of their peers in their efforts to allocate and grow their finances in the most fiscally responsible way possible. The table below highlights the work of 4-star and 3-star charities with people affected by the famine in Niger. Donors can be confident that contributions made to any of the following 12 charities will be spent efficiently. These charities have low overhead and fundraising costs enabling them to use more of their resources in carrying out their missions.
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Table: 4-star and 3-star Charities Working with Victims of the Famine in Niger | |
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Charity |
Program Highlights |
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World Vision has already distributed 900 tons of food. The charity is now working with the World Food Programme to distribute 1,480 tons of food as supplementary feeding for malnourished children, food-for-work agro-forestry programs and to stock 75 cereal banks. | |
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To reduce the cycle of nutritional crisis CARE is distributing both food and seeds. CARE also provides animal fodder to help people save their livestock and retain their economic livelihood during the emergency. | |
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Concern Worldwide operates a feeding program targeting 6,000 malnourished children in two districts in the region of Tahoua. Food rations are being distributed to an additional 6,000 families. | |
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Save the Children is concentrating its efforts in the Maradi and Zinder regions of Niger and will be working with the Ministry of Health to ensure that essential medical supplies are more accessible to children in need. | |
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Doctors Without Borders expects to treat more than 20,000 severely malnourished children this year, double the number of children treated in 2004, in one of the organization's biggest nutritional operations in the past 30 years. | |
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Action Against Hunger will provide food for about 20,000 families. It also plans to treat malnutrition in 27,000 children younger than five to reduce infant mortality in the Dakoro, Keita, Mayayi, and Tahoua regions. | |
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Oxfam experts in Niger are setting up a $2 million food support program. Vouchers will be distributed to 130,000 people. They can trade the vouchers for food from local traders. Plans are also in place to help 28,000 nomadic herders buy new animals for a fair price. | |
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UNICEF has responded to Niger's current food security crisis by restocking cereal banks in selected villages. | |
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CWS partners in Niger plan to provide assistance to some 50,000 people in 55 villages by delivering 600 tons of millet, 475 tons of animal fodder; 4,520 salt blocks (mainly for livestock), and constructing 13 cereal banks. | |
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WFP has appealed for $16 million to provide emergency food aid for 1.2 million of the neediest in Niger. | |
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Nutrition programs focus on issues and interventions in line with nutrition priorities for Niger, including improving child survival and the nutritional status of communities, and reinforcing primary health services. | |
| Islamic Relief | Islamic Relief is aiming to assist over 1 million people through food distribution and medical aid. |
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Recent work in Niger has focused on food security and, in the North, aid to communities embroiled in civil unrest. | |
| Mercy Corps | Mercy Corps will be feeding 5,000 children at eight health centers around the region. The agency will also be providing transportation to and from the health centers for severely malnourished children. |
| Americares |
Americares has distributed nearly 30,000 pounds of medicines, valued at more than $1.5 million, to the feeding center and to a network of 30 clinics throughout four districts of eastern Niger. |
