Shooked (Shaken for those English translation) Up By This Story...
Monday, 30. January 2006, 16:52:07
Checking out news coming out of Africa, this particular story shook me a bit...
Niger's government has rejected U.N. claims that millions of people in this desert nation may soon face renewed food shortages.
Government spokesman Ben Omar Mohamed accused the U.N. World Food Program late Thursday of trying to "discredit Niger" by releasing what he called false information on the country's precarious food situation.
On Wednesday, the U.N. World Food Program appealed for $28 million in emergency food aid for Niger. The WFP said more than 3 million people had food stocks that would last no longer than three to five months, and nearly 2 million others "face a precarious year struggling to maintain what are already borderline livelihoods."
Mohamed said Niger was expected to produce surplus food stocks this year. He estimated local food production for Niger's 2005-06 season at 3.7 million tons, compared with a need of 3.1 million tons.
Mohamed said the WFP and other humanitarian agencies "continue to distill false information, saying there is a famine in Niger that threatens 3 million people."
He accused humanitarian agencies of making appeals for money to "enrich themselves on the back of the Nigerien people."
This is the first time of me taking notice of an African country rejecting claims made from the United Nations. Why has a Niger government official single out the UN when other agencies speak the same message? With worldwide stereotypes of Africa and the face of starvation and time ticking until the next media crisis, the world is questioning the sanity of Niger government.
However about a week earlier, WFP showed confidence in response to providing relief and aid to the reported famine/malnourished people of Niger under their program by stirring up the compassion and pocketbooks of the news junky public to spawn a yanking of Western government and institutional purse strings. The 'need' is still greater than expected.
Niamey, 23 November 2005 - WFP warned today that unless the international community renewed its commitment to deal with the consequences of this year's food crisis in Niger -- including prevailing high levels of malnutrition among children -- the country faces a second successive year of extreme suffering and hardship. "It will take only the slightest adversity to push families over the edge again," said WFP Niger Country Director, Gian Carlo Cirri. "Many people have used every available means to get them through this year and the harvests will bring only a brief respite. The international community must renew its efforts to help them through what remains a very difficult time."
Worrying pictureA recently completed food security assessment by WFP across the worst affected areas in Niger reveals a worrying picture of poverty, debt and widespread food insecurity. Over 1.2 million people are estimated to have cereal stocks sufficient for only three months, while a further two million have stocks that will last a maximum of five months. Nearly two million more face a precarious year struggling to maintain what are already borderline livelihoods. Even if rains are sufficient, locusts stay away, harvests are good and food prices remain stable next year, many Nigeriens have already stretched their ability to deal with difficult times to the limit. Their survival strategies will be less reliable and less sustainable in 2006.
But this still leads to the question, why has a Niger government official deny claims (words or report) of food shortages but not acknowledge or openly denying the aid (money, medical and food supplies) the WFP is raising for its malnourished people. What is going on?
Recent update from WFP on their fundraising efforts for Niger
In Niger in particular, crushing poverty and crippling debt continue to undermine the ability of rural families to fend for themselves. WFP's emergency operation is currently focused on maintaining assistance to malnourished children. It also includes food-for-work projects and the replenishment of cereal banks in poor villages to reinforce people's ability to withstand another tough year. However, WFP's current operation in Niger still requires nearly US$22 million to avoid a break in food supply as early as next month.
The WFP crusader of Niger continue to work in collecting funds for Niger despite insult to its credibilty. Currently Niger is in WFP regional objectives for 2006 while 2005 Niger was almost exclusively within the WFP spotlight. The timing of this seems like a end of the year quarterly report that many charitiable organizations follow. Looks like the starving people of Niger asking for relief and aid will be in new hands for 2006. Hey this does not answer the question, why is Niger rejecting the United Nations World Food Programme? Is there some other simultaneous acts being played out in Niger to prompt a government official to single out the WFP? For me this is enough for today but expect more very soon hopefully.
WIDGETIZE