Mixed media: Africa's forgotten famine

The world community and international media stand accused of ignoring the developing famine in Niger. But does responsibility lie closer to home?

EARLY WARNING

UN handwringing: The United Nations first appealed for assistance for Niger in November and received almost no response. Another appeal for US$16 million ($23 million) in March got about US$1 million ($1.4 million). The latest appeal on May 25 for US$30 million ($43 million) has received about US$10 million ($14 million) but "it's still too little", the UN humanitarian chief, Jan Egeland, said. "We are having now an acute humanitarian crisis in Niger in which children are dying as we speak," he said. "We could have prevented this and the world community didn't." - The Guardian

Aid worker's frustration: "Prevention doesn't sell that much," said Stefanie Savariaud, spokeswoman for the UN World Food Programme in Niger's capital, Niamey. "The world has to wait for images of dying children to react." - Irish Examiner

Red tape to blame: The severe food crisis could have been prevented if the UN had a fund to jump-start humanitarian aid while appeals for money were considered, the head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Jan Egeland, said. Children were dying in Niger's humanitarian crisis but the international response had been slowed by bureaucracy. Mr Egeland said his UN office had $US50,000 ($66,400) to quickly respond to emergencies, but only for loans. - The Australian

Niger forgotten: "People didn't listen," Natasha Kofoworola Quist of Oxfam Great Britain said from Niamey. Quist said it was ironic that Niger had been forgotten while the world media had been focused on the recent G8 summit in Scotland, where the world's richest countries said that easing poverty in Africa would be adopted as a top priority. "They say they want to make poverty history and put Africa at the top of their agenda," Quist said. "Meanwhile people are dying." - www.irinnews.org

AFRICA'S PROBLEM

Economist's theory: "When aid money keeps coming, all our policymakers do is strategise on how to get more," said James Shikwati, the Kenya-based director of the Inter Region Economic Network think tank. "They forget about getting their own people working to solve these very basic problems. In Africa, we look to outsiders to solve our problems, making the victim not take responsibility to change." Tariffs on agricultural products within sub-Saharan Africa average as high as 33 per cent, compared with 12 per cent on similar products imported from Europe. "It doesn't make sense when they can't even allow their neighbours to feed them. They have to wait for others in Europe or Asia to help." - Irish Examiner

Letter to the editor: Sir, My regular medical working visits to Niger over the past 27 years lead me to two comments that some may consider politically incorrect. First, although the climate is hostile and the land is barren, imaginative irrigation schemes, the use of natural fertilisers and the planting of more resistant crops would alleviate the situation. But a belief system that actively resists change and stoically accepts hardship as the will of Allah militates against innovation. - Andrew Potter, timesonline.co.uk

State assurance: Niger's President has reassured the country that the food situation is improving, pledging action to ensure this year's hunger crisis would not be repeated. Civic groups and Opposition leaders have criticised President Tandja Mamadou for failing to act faster to tackle the impact of drought and locusts in the West African country, where an estimated 3.6 million people are facing food shortages. "We can note with relief that the situation is improving and our anguish will not take long to disappear," Mr Mamadou said. - Reuters

Trader's profit: While mothers continue to bring children weak with hunger to feeding centres, market stalls are filled with food, but at prices well out of the reach of many in this desperately poor country. "It is the Government's job to deal with the hungry, we the traders are here for business," said Ibrahim Baye, who sells millet, a staple in Niger, at a Maradi market. A friend sitting with him said the grains on display had been stockpiled "and traders wait until the lean season to sell at double its price". - National Post, Canada