Hunger crisis in Niger

More than one million children face starvation in Niger and across the Sahel region of west Africa. “We’ve had some very disturbing reports from Niger in the last few days, from our frontline health workers,” says Louise Hill of aid agency Save the Children. “They’re doing all they can to battle the food crisis, but its got to the point where children are now dying because of lack of food.”

Save the Children has called on the G8 leaders meeting in Camp David to make the emergency in Niger, and the wider problem of food security, a priority in their talks. Louise Hill explains, “We’re speaking out today … to make sure that the crisis in Niger is at the heart of discussions at the G8. Food security is on the agenda, but we want it to be one of the most important discussion points for world leaders attending.”

She says, “it’s really about driving forward action, and demonstrating strong political will to tackle hunger.”

You can listen to the full interview of Louise Hill with Christopher Wells here: