Millions face hunger due to lack of rain

Written by Johnson G. Samba

Tuesday, 15 June 2010 13:50

YAOUNDE—As downpours beat up the tropical parts of the country, millions face starvation in northern Cameroon because of failed rains, aide agencies have warned.

The threat, which is affecting three other countries and has put some 10 million people at risk, is “critical”, said the World Food Programme (WFP) on May 3.

Millions in the arid Eastern Sahel territory will need food aide, the agency said, adding that livestock and crop are also succumbing to the drought.

Because of hunger and food insecurity brought about by high prices, people were already migrating to where they hope to find more food, said Save the Children.

Desperate Chadians are heading to Libya to find work or seek alms in the streets, while hundreds of northern Nigeriens are heading to the capital, the charity said.

The “hunger season” is expected to run for several months until September, when the next harvest is due.

Niger Republic is the worst hit of the four countries affected, with 7.1 million people believed to be starving. The eastern parts of Mali are also afected.

The south of Cameroon produces most of the food for the country and sub-region but very little of it reaches the north because of transport difficulties.

Locals have also been blamed for selling off most of their harvest to high-paying traders from other countries and then stay back to starve.

The WFP currently runs “food-for-school” programmes in which pupils are given food rations to help them stay in class in some parts of northern Cameroon.

The UN agency estimates that in all, it would have to give food handouts to some 3.6 million people in the coming weeks.