|
Niger Famine was an acute humanitarian disaster that affected the nation during 2005-2006. The starkness of this natural calamity was such that it left several millions of people in starving conditions and a handful of others amidst death and endangered situations. In fact, as per a number of international dailies, the 2005 -2006 Niger Famine was perhaps the worst of its kind in the national history.
The facts and figures, officially declaring the harshness of drought in Niger are indeed fearful and heart-rending. Today when noticed formally, as many as 800,000 children in Niger are found foodless and in states of utter starvation. In fact, they were almost on the verge of death, if starvation became permanent for this younger generation. Almost every third child in the nation was in an underfed condition.
A handful of reasons are set forth as explanations for the pitiable situations of Famine in Niger. One of them is of course severe drought in the region, resulting from scarcity of rainfall. This had direct effect on the agricultural activities of the land, which witnessed incredible fall in crop productions. Sensing the severity of the situation, a plea for help was raised from governmental levels, which hardly received any attention.
Soon the situation broke into a famine and people started dying out of hunger and malnutrition. The famine conditions in Niger rapidly reached a stage when the death tolls were counted no longer in mere numbers and statistical figures, but in volumes. This was a stage when Niger started obtaining material and financial aids from various governmental, private and voluntary organizations on international levels. United Nations and World Food Program extended helping hands to Niger and assisted the famine-stricken nation to cope up with the alarming situation and come out from it as soon as possible.
|
