The Sahel region of West Africa is facing a worsening food crisis, with estimates that 13 million people in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad are going hungry.
There is a chronic food and nutrition emergency which is being exacerbated by this year’s poor and erratic rains which have damaged harvests. High food prices are making matters worse.
People in the Sahel region, which includes some of the world's poorest countries, are still recovering from the last food crisis in 2010 which is increasing their vulnerability.
Strengthening communities
Tearfund partners are helping communities prepare for a difficult year ahead. Away Dankasoua has been supported by a Tearfund partner in Niger to do market gardening which has provided her with much needed income.
Not only has she been able to buy food but she has used this money to buy more seeds and pay for school fees for one of her children. This is one of the ways that we are strengthening vulnerable communities, which is crucial in reducing the impact of a food crisis.
A Tearfund study in Malawi showed that for every £1 invested in agriculture and reducing risk to climate change, in return there were £24 of net benefits for the communities.
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Learn more about the food crisis in our policy blog and a report on lessons learnt from the 2005 and 2010 food crises