Photo: Lys Arango for Action Against Hunger, Niger
The ongoing Lake Chad Basin Crisis, one of the most severe humanitarian emergencies in the world, has displaced 2.4 million people and caused food insecurity for 5 million people across Niger, Chad, Nigeria and Cameroon. The armed group Boko Haram has led a nine-year insurgency in the region, destroying infrastructure and access to basic services and thus perpetuating fear and increasing reliance on humanitarian aid. By donating to #Brownbagit you can help Action Against Hunger teams on the ground provide much needed food assistance and medical attention to those displaced by the conflict.
Action Against Hunger’s Response to Food Security Needs
Action Against Hunger has worked in the Diffa region of south-east Niger since early 2015, supporting refugees, returnees, host populations and displaced individuals affected by the conflict. The Health Centres and Schools in the area have been closed due to the constant insecurity, with the restrictive security measures preventing crop collection and fishing in the lake. With humanitarian needs constantly changing due to the nature of the conflict, teams on the ground have ensured rapid response to urgent food security needs and created a contingency stock of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene materials and resources, used to promote public health practices and awareness and to reduce rates of infectious diseases.
Photo: Lys Arango for Action Against Hunger, Niger
A member of Action Against Hunger’s Food Security team explains how to prepare food for the goats. Fantaou Pigari’s family received 3 goats from the program, now they have 4.
With thousands more displaced over the past two months, Action Against Hunger is currently carrying out a larger Food Security and Livelihoods Program, including projects funded by the Swiss Cooperation, CIAA, and Global Affairs Canada. The joint effort is aimed to strengthen population resilience, specifically reinforcing economic opportunities and social cohesion. Some of the actions taken include:
- Supporting 1350 households with goat kits and 740 households with livestock feed kits, enabling families to generate income through trade
- Distribution of ‘cooking gas’ kits to 500 households in order to reduce further deforestation in the region
- A total of 1600 households have received agricultural kits and training for agricultural recovery, helping families regain self-sufficiency
- The establishment of 25 natural resource management committees with training on Natural Assisted Regeneration and Agroforestry
Photo: Lys Arango for Action Against Hunger, Niger
Fantaou Pigari’s daughter makes handwoven carpets to sell at the market to support her family.
Photo: Lys Arango for Action Against Hunger, Niger
Elhadi Mustafa is also a beneficiary of the Food Security and Livelihoods Program, familiar with the rearing of livestock; “The only work I have ever developed: buying and selling animals. It’s what I know how to do.”
What you can do
With the United Nation’s most recent conference on the conflict hosted this week in Berlin, there is growing international awareness about the urgent need for aid and resources to the region. If you’d like to get involved, consider donating towards our #Brownbagit campaign. Donate what you normally would spend on ordering lunch to Action Against Hunger, and support our teams in the field to deliver much needed aid and support.
Our work in Bangladesh is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC).