3. - usaid

NIGER
CHARA(3'ECFUSTICS OF THE DISASTER
EVENT:
Dmught/Famhe
LOCATION:
Niamey, Dosso, Tahoua, Maradi, Agadez, Diffa & surrounding areas.
DISAS~ VICTIMS : Number Needing Food Assistance
124 , 500
DESCRIPTION OF THE DISASTER
Drought conditions have been general throughout West Equatorial Africa.
Early reports on shortages of feed and grazing for cattle in Niger were
received in SeptePnber 1968, following 50% reduction of normal August
rainfall. Conditions worsened and food shortages among the people
increased. Again in January of 1969, the famine situation was reported
worsening and on January 22, outside assistance to bring food to the
drought victims was sought.
ACTION TAKEN BY ?HE GOVERNMENT OF NIGER
Early in the drought, the Government tried to provide millet leaves as a
stopgap measure to feed cattle but recognized that even herds surviving
Subsequently the nomads
the dry six-month period would be undernourished.
who depended on the herds for meat and dairy products were affected as were
Government of Niger beef exports.
In a letter to the U. S. Mission by President Diori of the GON, a request
was made for donation of 5,000 metric tons of sorghum for delivery by
May 15, 1969. The President indicated distribution would be as follows :
Niamey - 700 tons; Dosso - 300 tons; Tahoua - 2,000 tons; Maradi - 1,000
tons; Agadez - 500 tons and Diffa - 500 tons. Also, the GON stated it
would make distribution within 30 days after arrival of the sorghum to
approxjmately 124,500 recipients for the three month period of June, July
and August, 1969.
ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY ?HE U. S. GOVERNMENT
Ln response to an official request from the GON, which USAlDLNiger recommended
be approved, ADD approved donation of the 5,000 metric tons of
PREVIOUS PAGE BLANK