WFP director says food security crisis in Sahel is not over

Mar 30 2013

The World Food Programme (WFP) "is helping feed more than 10 million people in eight countries" in the Sahel, but WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin "stressed the crisis was not over," AlertNet reports. Conflict in Mali "has forced around 340,000 people to flee their homes, compounding a hunger crisis in Mali and neighboring countries caused by last year's drought in the Sahel region of West Africa -- the third in seven years," the news agency writes, adding that Cousin "said she was particularly concerned that children were not getting proper nutrition and better humanitarian access was imperative." Noting the successes of several programs, "Cousin said climate change meant the Sahel would face more droughts, but the world now had a chance to stop droughts turning into disasters," AlertNet states, adding, "She urged donors to continue investing in the Sahel region so that the WFP and other agencies could help people build up their ability to cope with future droughts." The news service also includes a video interview with Cousin (Batha, 3/27).