As a vast region of West Africa has been ravaged by one of the most severe famines in recent history, 8 million people are facing starvation. A flight carrying food, seeds, medical equipment and other essential items from the British Red Cross arrived in Niger today.
Niger - the second poorest country in the world - has suffered the worst effects of the food crisis, with 350,000 children suffering acute malnutrition. Other areas such as Senegal, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso also suffer from food shortage, according to the British Red Cross.
Miranda Bradley, part of the British Red Cross team, said the crisis could be the worst famine in Africa for more than a decade.
Peter Pierce, the team leader, said, "Our main function will be to receive, store and forward on all the relief items that will be arriving."
"It’s difficult to know what to expect and we will undoubtedly face challenges but it is vital that we transport everything off the planes and to people in need as fast as possible."
The Red Cross appeal, launched on Friday, aims to raise £8m globally, with £500,000 coming from Britain. A second aid flight from the UK is due to leave for Niger on Wednesday.
Other leading British aid agencies have also promptly responded to the crisis. Oxfam Great Britain launched a £1 million appeal for the West Africa Food Crisis on Thursday. In addition, Oxfam experts in Niger have already set up a US$2 million food support programme. Vouchers will be distributed to 130,000 people which can be traded for food with local traders.
Aid agencies in the UK have unanimously blamed the international community for its slow reaction to deal with the deteriorating trouble in Niger.
World Vision's international programmes officer, Alex Whitney said, "The UN appealed for funds in May and was initially entirely ignored. Two months down the line they have declared that only a third of the $30m requested has been delivered."
According to the report of BBC News Monday, the United Nations' aids had finally begun to arrive in Niger last Saturday, but only after graphic pictures of starving children were broadcast last week.
The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland told the press that he is confident the UN’s US$30.7 million target will be met. And the target would soon be increased also.
"We have received more in the past 10 days than we had in the previous 10 months," Egeland said.
Eunice K. Y. Or
Christians Today Correspondant