Help families survive the climate-related hunger crisis in Niger
In Niger, mothers are battling against the climate crisis to keep their children alive.
Droughts and floods destroying crops
50% drop in cereal production in many parts of Niger
4 million people facing dangerous food insecurity and malnutrition
Basics pushed beyond the reach of families
As instability grips Niger, there is another persistent and constant threat impacting families’ lives – the global climate crisis.
Droughts are causing harvests to fail, and when the rain does come, it causes destructive floods that destroy crops. This relentless cycle of extreme weather has led to a 50% drop in cereal production in many parts of the country, causing skyrocketing food prices.
Parents are doing everything they can to protect their children from this climate-related hunger crisis. But with temperatures rising, and the lean season getting longer, this crisis will only get worse for struggling families.
Aicha and Siyama
We met Aicha at an intensive nutritional rehabilitation centre supported by Concern in Tahoua, where she has brought her nine-month-old daughter Siyama.
Rising food prices forced Aicha’s sweet-selling business to close, and meant her family had to survive on just her husband Abdoul’s small income. Soon, they were living on just one meal a day.
Climate change is evident. My husband used to buy bags of millet and rice but because of the increase in prices, he now buys just enough for us to eat. It used to cost 750 francs but now you must spend 1,000. Beans are 500 francs more expensive.
Not only has the amount of food available dropped, so has the quality. Aicha stopped being able to breastfeed Siyama, no matter how much she tried. And to make matters worse, the family could not afford baby formula, and Siyama started to lose weight. It was when Siyama had diarrhoea and had no energy to play that Aicha began to worry.
“I noticed her body changing, her weight and the visible bones. I noticed the signs of malnutrition were there.” Aicha knew she had to take action, and travelled to a Concern-supported health centre to seek urgent help from our team.
How your support can help
At Concern-supported health clinics, families are provided with emergency therapeutic food packs, containing essentials such as infant milk, emergency therapeutic food sachets, and six kilograms of fortified flour to treat malnourished babies and children. Made locally in Niger, fortified flour is rich in nutrients and can help families fight malnutrition by cooking with it at home.
Cash transfers, alongside emergency therapeutic food packs, help families like Aicha’s to survive, and give them the dignity to buy what they need most.
And we can help communities in Niger to use climate-smart agriculture techniques, so they can become more food secure. Your donation can provide drought-resistant seeds to increase harvests, give farmers essential training, and supply vital equipment and tools to communities.
We need your support to ensure we can continue to help families survive the climate crisis.
