Emergency Nutrition in Niger - SCC Response 2010

(August 2010) The Eastern Sahel region of West Africa (including Chad Mali Mauritania and Niger) is in the midst of a deepening food and nutrition crisis. The population of Niger has been most heavily affected with over 7 million people facing food shortages. Of these 3.3 million people or over 20% of the population are severely food insecure. The nutritional status of children has also deteriorated considerably. A nationwide survey (June 2010) reported a 35% increase in acute malnutrition in children under five compared to the same time in 2009. The Government of Niger has declared a state of emergency and requested international assistance. With Canadian support Save the Children is providing supplementary feeding for moderate-acutely malnourished children; outpatient therapeutic care for severe-acutely malnourished children; and referring children with severe acute malnutrition and medical complications to managed care in stabilization centres. It is also providing community mobilization and education; nutrition screening and surveillance; and limited support to health post infrastructures. Upon completion this project is expected to have assisted over 10 000 acutely malnourished children.