As the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) nears the completion of its $10 million response to drought in Eastern Africa, its International Disaster Response team is now shifting some of its attention to West Africa where a new food crisis is looming.

In the coming months, between five and nine million people risk going hungry in the Sahel, a semi-arid region just below the Sahara, due to a season of erratic rainfall, drought and insect infestations in Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad.

CRWRC’s immediate focus will be on Niger, which is one of the most severely impacted countries in the region. In Niger, insufficient rains nationwide led to a 31% decline in crop production compared to last year. Experts estimate that cereal production for Niger’s 15 million people is likely to be the lowest in 20 years.

Niger has also been impacted by very steep increases in food prices, and by the crisis in Libya. For years, many Nigeriens have depended on family members who lived and worked in Libya. During the crisis people fled libya, leaving behind their jobs and belongings, and causing many Nigerien families to suffer from the loss of income and the added burden of more mouths to feed.  In the last week, many people have also fled to Niger to escape a new crisis in Mali, further increasing the number of people who are vulnerable.

As a result of this combination of events, one third of Niger’s population has been declared “food insecure” by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. This means that people are unable to access enough nutritionally adequate food to stay healthy and active. In urban areas of Niger, 32% of the people are already food insecure, and in rural areas the percentage is 51%.

CRWRC has been working in Niger for nearly two decades, partnering with local churches and community organizations to carry out long-term community programs as well as responses to disaster situations. In the face of this new crisis, CRWRC is in the planning process with its partners to determine how they will respond. They are currently planning a food assistance response, including the subsidized sale of grain, various food-for-work activities, distribution of seeds, and possibly digging wells.

Please pray for the millions of people across the Sahel who are again experiencing severe drought, and for CRWRC’s response in Niger. Your financial support is also urgently needed!

Support World Renew’s West Africa Drought response.

Checks marked “West Africa Drought 2012” can also be sent to:

CRWRC US
2850 Kalamazoo Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49560
Ph: 1-800-55-CRWRC

CRWRC-Canada
3475 Mainway
P.O. Box 5070 STN LCD
Burlington, Ontario, L7R 3Y8