Prevent hunger crisis in Niger following coup

It’s urgent the international community prevent hunger and starvation after the recent coup in the West African nation of Niger. In July, a military junta overthrew Niger's democratically elected government and is detaining President Mohamed Bazoum and his family.

This political crisis impacts a country that was already suffering devastating hunger from conflict, inflation and drought. Children are at risk of deadly malnutrition in Niger and this will get worse if political instability continues. The U.N. World Food Program says the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate in Niger is 12.2 percent, which is above the World Health Organization alert threshold.

In response to the military takeover, The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has imposed sanctions on Niger. But it's vital these sanctions do not impact the many poor and hungry civilians.

A group of charities including CARE, Save the Children, NRC and Mercy Corps state “The combination of sanctions and conflict with the existing vulnerabilities in Niger could have devastating effects on the lives of over 4.4 million people in the country who are already in need of humanitarian assistance."

Jan Egeland, the secretary-general of the NRC pleads, “There still is time to avoid a military confrontation and find a peaceful resolution. States and sanctioning bodies must prevent further adverse effects on civilians by including humanitarian exemptions to any existing and future sanctions regimes."

A prolonged political crisis and the possibility of armed conflict will worsen hunger in the already impoverished country.

Even before the coup, Niger was suffering immense hunger and poverty. The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) says 3.3 million people (13 percent of the population) were already severely food insecure. WFP also says another 7.3 million people (28 percent of the population) is close to falling into the severe food insecurity as well. With rising prices and loss of livelihoods as a result of the coup, this worsening hunger is expected.

The WFP also says it urgently needs funding for its Niger relief mission. WFP depends on voluntary donations from governments and the public.

WFP’s programs in Niger are aimed at building resiliency among farmers so they can better withstand the impact of climate change. Land restoration and helping farmers get through drought are critical to Niger. Having local farmers provide food for Niger’s school feeding program is a life-changing project. But all this potential is at risk with the political crisis.

Drought conditions and lack of food could lead to conflict among groups competing for scarce resources. Hunger is powerful enough to cause major instability.

People can help by urging their elected officials to seek peace in Niger and prevent humanitarian suffering among the civilians. Supporting relief agencies in Niger is critical so they have the resources needed to provide food and other assistance.

As the international community seeks a peaceful resolution to Niger's political crisis, it must protect the poor and hungry.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the U.N. World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.“