Mother and malnourished toddler at a malnutrition clinic (CRENI).

Story Summary: Due to rainfall deficit and failed harvests in the past years, the Sahel region is undergoing an increasingly severe drought. Overall, 18 million people are affected in the region.

Niger, located in the arid Sahel region of West-Africa, is in a critical situation with nearly half of its population of 16 million affected by the drought crisis. According to UNICEF, more than 5 million people are facing food shortages – approximately 35 per cent of the country’s entire population. UNICEF also estimates that nearly 394,000 children in Niger will need to be treated for severe acute malnutrition this year. Niger is ranked 186 out of 187 countries on the 2011 UNDP Development Index.