World Vision warns of looming food crisis in 2012
Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou. © Djembe | Dreamstime.com
By Shanichia Henry
In a recent news release, World Vision Canada warns the global community of a potential food crisis that will most likely affect West African nations in early 2012. According to the Famine Early Warnings Systems Network (FEWS-NET), the current food shortage is caused by incoherent rain patterns and insect attacks, which prevents the possibility of a successful harvest.
For some countries in the Sahel region, the effects of a food crisis are already being felt as 50% of Niger’s population, over 6 million people, reportedly have less than a three-week’s supply of food. Mauritania and Mali are also considered at high-risk for famine.
A food crisis in the Sahel region would be especially devastating as the area is still recovering from the severe drought of 2009. Because Niger and Mauritania are among some of the poorest countries in West Africa, there is dire need for assistance from the international community in order to avoid a situation similar to what has occurred in the Horn of Africa this year.
Various relief agencies and governmental bodies are currently circulating the urgent message. According to Caroline Riseboro, the Vice President of Public Affairs for World Vision Canada, these institutions are “calling for international action to help deal with the potential food crisis in countries in Western Africa, including Niger, Mauritania and Mali. The goal here is to alert the international community to take action now to prevent a food crisis from occurring, rather than dealing with a more severe lack of food in early 2012.”
World Vision Canada also emphasizes the importance of political action, as simply providing resources will not be sufficient to deal with the entirety this potential crisis. Accordingly, World Vision has developed a number of initiatives including cash-for-work and food-for-work programs with the World Food Program for nearly 65,000 people, continuing life-saving nutrition programs for children, working with the government to support farmers, protect livestock and improve food security.
Riseboro advises that “people in the GTA, can help by becoming aware of the situation and following the charity of their choice over the coming months to see if they plan to launch a fundraising drive to provide support for the people in the affected areas in Western Africa.”
If the international community does not act quickly, many people may starve to death. According to World Vision staffer Seth Le Leu, “Tiny children are being brought to the clinic, already malnourished and with no prospect of much food. The clinics are teeming with mothers desperate to save their frail children.”
For more information about World Vision Canada, visit www.worldvision.ca
Related Articles:
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Loading ...
Leave your response!