Millions sought to battle famine

GARIN GOUBLI, Niger – The United Nations appealed Friday for $80 million to fight a food crisis threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands in this impoverished West African nation.

The appeal was made at Garin Goubli village, 20 miles south of the eastern town of Maradi during a visit by Canadian International Cooperation Minister Ailleen Carroll and UNICEF Deputy Executive Secretary Rima Salah.

“We launch an appeal for $80 million immediately to the world to help Niger,” said Michele Falavigna, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Niger.

In the past week, three U.N. agencies – the World Food Program, UNICEF and the Food and Agriculture Organization – made appeals totaling $75 million for Niger. Falavigna’s appeal apparently encompassed the earlier calls.

Some $25.4 million has already been contributed or committed by donors, U.N. deputy emergency relief coordinator Margareta Wahlstrom said.

The Niger crisis, blamed on drought and a locust invasion, has sparked sharp questions about the way the world responds to disasters.

The international community had failed to respond to repeated U.N. appeals since November, acting only after it was too late for many and when images of starving children on TV news broadcasts made clear the situation had reached a crisis.

“We may need to look at how the international early warning system can be improved to avoid such crises,” Carroll said.