|
Islamic Relief is one of the first aid agencies to reach the people of Niger and Northern Mali with emergency food. Over 100 tons have already been distributed and further projects are underway to prevent an estimated 5 million people from starving to death.
According to the United Nations, around 150,000 children will die soon if aid does not reach them in time. This crisis was widely predicted after a season of poor rains and massive locust invasions, but until now, there has been little response from the international community.
Islamic Relief is responding to the crisis with $5.4 million in aid; $1.8 million of this has already been allocated. The emergency food distributions have reached thousands of families in Niger and Northern Mali who are on the brink of starvation.
Feeding centers are being set up to help severely malnourished patients. Islamic Relief is providing medical aid through hospitals, feeding centers, and mobile teams of nutritional health specialists. Islamic Relief is also preparing a blanket feeding program in association with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) that will give a month’s supply of essential food items to people in all of the critically affected areas.
The WFP has warned that "these statistics will only get worse over the next few months unless immediate action is taken."
|
