Emergency Nutrition Assistance - Doctors without Borders 2011

31 December 2010 - In 2010 Niger faced a severe food and nutrition crisis which peaked during the summer months affecting seven million people nearly half of the country’s population. Despite a good harvest and pastoral season in late 2010 the nutritional situation of children remains very alarming. According to a national survey undertaken in December while the presence of acute malnutrition declined since the crisis it remains above emergency thresholds in 60% of the country’s regions. Households affected by high and extreme food insecurity will continue to face significant difficulties in re-establishing their livelihoods and assets in 2011. With CIDA support Doctors without Borders is helping to reduce morbidity and mortality related to malnutrition and associated diseases in children under 5 years of age in two districts of the Zinder Region of Niger. Activities focus on: providing curative and preventive care for severely malnourished children including through detecting referring and providing emergency medical treatment and supporting communities and local health structures to manage the acute malnutrition caseload.