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FAO in the 2019 humanitarian appeal: The Niger - Humanitarian Response Plan 2019

Countries
Niger
Sources
FAO
Publication date
Origin
View original

to assist
505 400 million people

FAO requires
USD 12.8 million

period
January – December 2019

Following cereal and forage deficits in certain departments affected by insecurity and climate hazards, providing livelihood support is crucial to prevent the worsening of the food security situation.

The humanitarian situation in the Niger remains affected by food insecurity, malnutrition, population displacement, natural disasters and epidemics. Multiple chronic factors and successive shocks mean that millions of people require urgent assistance each year.

Objectives

FAO is working with partners of the Food Security Cluster to:

• Provide coordinated food and agricultural assistance to save lives and protect livelihoods.

• Strengthen household resilience to shocks in crisis-affected areas.

• Enhance national capacities to ensure evaluation, monitoring of activities and analysis of gender-sensitive response and protection.

Support food and livestock production

animal feed | vegetable seeds | tillage equipment | fodder seeds | vaccination campaigns | deworming | rehabilitation of wells | goat restocking | cash+ | cash for work | unconditional cash transfers

Impact on food security

The crisis in the Niger is rooted in structural and cyclical factors, including food insecurity, malnutrition, natural disasters, epidemics and population movements. This increases the vulnerabilities of millions of people already facing poverty in the country, where a large part of the rural population still lives in a state of chronic food insecurity.

Violent conflict and instability in neighbouring countries along with tensions within the Niger continue to result in population displacements, particularly in the Diffa, Tillabery and Tahoua regions. The effects of the state of emergency in these areas will continue to hinder the movement of people and goods, and access to markets as well as to farming fields and grazing areas, resulting in price increases, the disruption of livelihoods, and rising levels of food insecurity and malnutrition.

Furthermore, land degradation, pest attacks, floods and forage deficits due to drought in agricultural and pastoral areas have also had negative impacts on food insecurity in the country and put pressure on already limited natural resources, resulting in reduced production outcomes.

In 2019, the number of people severely food insecure is expected to double – from to 604 000 to 1.2 million – during the lean season if adequate assistance is not provided. Establishing food stocks and restoring fodder production is essential to improve vulnerable people’s livelihoods and resilience to shocks.