Niger, Africa—Malnutrition and mortality rates are critically high among children under five in Maradi and Zinder regions where World Vision operates area development programs. More than three children per 10,000 under age five are dying daily from malnutrition reports Sarah Carr, a Canadian nutritionist serving in Niger. According to international standards, under-five mortality rates of 2/10,000 children per day indicates an emergency; 4/10,000 indicates a severe situation.

"The situation is escalating and we aren't even in the peak of the hungry season between harvests yet," said Carr in a telephone interview from Maradi, a town located about 550 kms east of the capital, Niamey. Levels of wasting (acute malnutrition) among children in Maradi and Zinder have reached 13.4 and 13.5 respectively.

World Vision is operating an outpatient therapeutic feeding program in Zinder for up to 5,000 moderately malnourished children under-five without medical complications. Children receive packets of a high-energy peanut supplement called Plumpynut, as well as a ration of millet, cow peas and oil to take home. Children who are identified as being severely malnourished with medical complications are evacuated to a hospital in Maradi—about four hours away by road. Plans are to expand this program to Maradi based on new funding received.

The food security situation will probably worsen before crops are harvested in late October, says Carr. "Farmers are working hard planting right now and they're expending a lot of energy but they have little food input." They don't have enough food for themselves or their children. Prices for millet—a diet staple here—have more than tripled since last year. A 100 kg bag of millet now sells for $75—far beyond the reach of most Nigeriens who live on a dollar a day when times are good.

Almost one-quarter of Niger's 12 million people are at risk, including 800,000 children. World Vision Niger is responding to the crisis by stocking village-based cereal banks, operating a nutritional program and addressing food security concerns in affected communities. The program has received about $1.6 million through government grants and private funding from World Vision Support Offices, including World Vision Canada. But an estimated $5 million is still needed to expand nutrition programs, construct and stock cereal banks, and develop economic and agricultural recovery programs.

International governments are slowly responding to a UN appeal which has now been revised to for $30 million to aid Niger. However, getting food into Niger is a major challenge even if funding is available. Neighbouring countries (Mali, Nigeria) are experiencing their own food shortages and are reluctant to sell their stock. The World Food Programme plans to import 23,000 metric tonnes to be distributed from end of July to September. World Vision will be one of the agencies helping distribute some of this food in the most needy communities. These quantities still fall short of what is needed but they will help alleviate some of the severe hunger affecting hundreds of thousands of people right now. This offers little hope to children who are hungry right now.

"Young boys are banging on my door at night begging for food," says Carr. "That’s something I've never seen in Africa, even here in Niger where people are so poor."

World Vision is an international Christian humanitarian relief and development organization working in more than 90 countries around the world, providing help to more than 85 million people each year.