“When
we talk about the most vulnerable populations, we are referring
to about 160 000 children who are moderately malnourished here
in Niger and 36 000 who are severely malnourished. Those are
the groups most at risk at this particular point, and those
are the populations we have targeted first,” says Langdon
Greenhalgh, who heads the International Federation relief operation
in Niger.
The Red Cross will distribute food to some 23 400 children below
the age of five over the coming weeks, he says. “Also,
we will do a larger scale, wider general distribution to around
536 000 people in Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso in
the following weeks and months,” he adds.
In a food crisis like the one in Niger, it is crucial to reach
as many people as possible in an effective and thorough manner.
According to Langdon Greenhalgh, what makes this operation a
successful one is the role of Niger Red Cross volunteers as
well as well-functioning logistics.
In Bagaroua, in Western Niger, mothers have brought their youngest
children to the village health centre. Most of the children
are one to three years old. Some are sleeping on their mother’s
back, while others are standing by her side, queuing up.
The health centre is busy. Niger Red Cross volunteers and health
workers are weighing and measuring the children. Health cards
are filled out and given to the mothers.
Four of the health workers and busy vaccinating children and
giving out tablets to strengthen the little ones’ immune
systems.
“We have registered around 400 children below the age
of five who need food and close follow-up here in Bagaroua and
the surrounding areas,” explains Dr. Robert Yao, a member
of the Federation team.
“After the health check, they receive a two-week ration
of an enriched mix of corn, soy-oil and minerals as supplementary
nutrition”, Dr. Yao explains. “Then Red Cross volunteers
inform the mothers on to prepare the mix for their children.
Finally they get a one-month family-ration of 100 kilograms
of rice.”
“So far, this distribution has gone well,” says
Mohamad Radji who is in charge of security for the Federation
on the site.
“Volunteers from the Niger Red Cross have been trained
so that they can be mobilized on short notice”, he says.
“There have not been any problems recruiting volunteers,
and the work they are doing is absolutely crucial in order to
get food out to the most vulnerable fast,” he points out.
Maria Bizo, 22, tells the same story as many others about the
difficulties of getting enough food. “We do not have any
cattle and we have no income,” she says.
“So when the harvest fails there is no food. Also, since
there is no market here in Bagaroua it is really hard to get
what we need and to find work. Now and then, me and my husband
work on a farm, but what we earn in one day is just enough to
buy food the next, which isn’t enough”, she explains.
When Maria Bizo returns from the Red Cross food distribution,
she will be able to feed her two-year-old malnourished son Maman
Sani, as well as his two older brothers and the rest of the
family.
“We continue to see an increase of prices for food on
the markets. There are small quantities of food available, but
the problem is that the prices have increased so much that most
people cannot afford the food that is out there,” Greenhalgh
explains.
Livestock have also been severely affected by fodder shortages
and many more animals are dying throughout the hardest hit parts
of Niger and Mali.
“Animals are the main assets for pastoralists in particular.
The sale of more and more animals affects a pastoralist’s
ability to buy food as he receives less money for them due to
their poor state of health.
This in turn means that the pastoralists must sell higher numbers
of animals to make up for their decreased market value, thereby
depleting their herds to dangerous levels,” Greenhalgh
points out.
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Niger
Red Cross volunteers weighing a little child. According
to the Red Cross, there are 160 000 children who are moderately
malnourished in Niger and 36 000 who are severely malnourished.
Photo: Olav Saltbones/Norwegian Red Cross (p13068)
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Mothers
queuing up with their children outside the health centre
in Bagaroua, western Niger. After a health check, they
receive a two-week ration of an enriched mix of corn,
soy-oil and minerals as supplementary nutrition as well
as 100 kilograms of rice for the family. Photo: Olav Saltbones/Norwegian
Red Cross (p13067)
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Maria
Bizo with her youngest son, two-year-old Maman Sani in
her home. “We do not have any cattle and we have
no income,” she says. “So when the harvest
fails there is no food.” Photo: Olav Saltbones/Norwegian
Red Cross (p13069)
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Niger
Red Cross volunteers distributing food. In Niger, the
Red Cross will distribute food to some 23 400 children
below the age of five over the coming weeks. Photo: Olav
Saltbones/Norwegian Red Cross (p13070)
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In
and around Bagaroua, the Red Cross has registered some
400 children below the age of five who need food and close
follow-up. Photo: Olav Saltbones/Norwegian Red Cross (p13071)
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News
