Thousands of people in Niger face famine as a part of daily life; 80 new children are threatened with death from malnutrition on a daily basis. In the summer of 2005 the existing hunger crisis became aggravated and intensified by a massive shift in climate. Food stores were depleted and new food was slow in coming. Livestock began dropping dead in the field and desperately starving people had taken to eating tree leaves, roots and dead flesh.

Niger has practically no infrastructure and is ranked as the second most impoverished nation in the world. The ongoing food shortages, droughts and plagues of locusts have made agriculture difficult here without modern conveniences to assist in eliminating or alleviating these problems.

 

 

 

 

Zakat Foundation Response to the Need

The Zakat Foundation of America was one of few international relief organizations to work hard in Niger for the change in the lives of people there. When the hunger crisis exploded into a full-scale devastation, Dr Muhammad Abdo arrived on the scene to coordinate our operations with local organizations and find places where the most good could be done. Dr. Abdo writes “…this poor country with no infrastructure seen anywhere to support a population of 12 million. Afflicted by drought and locust invasions for the last couple of years culminating in a devastating famine beginning around May of this year, forcing them to forage for tree leaves, roots, with the stench of death heard from too many.”

Nineteen villages were aided through our activities. By the grace of Allah (SWT) our food distributions touched over 1500 families and medical care was provided for malnourished and ill children. Three major villages just south of the capitol of Niamey and the other sixteen villages were in the Maradi province. We brought in meat and medicine, food and water, hope and comfort.