West Africa (Sahel) Food Crisis

The Sahel region of West Africa is facing a hunger and livelihood crisis. Help CBM to reduce the cycle of famine in West Africa

In Niger alone, more than one million people are facing a severe risk of food crisis. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, where traditional livelihood consists of raising goats, sheep, cattle and camels. There is a semi-arid region in the centre of Niger that receives only a few weeks of rain each year. This year, rain in the Sahel region was late and patchy; resulting in low growth of crops, and inflated prices of what little food is available.

Scarcity of food and high prices means that in many cases livestock is dying. People's livelihoods are being destroyed. Without their cattle, farmers are unable to support themselves or their families.

Life for my family is very, very hard. The animals are our life" - Amina

To help to reduce the devatating effects of the lean season, CBM has launched a cash transfer scheme. 400 of the most impoverished, vulnerable households have been identified for help via the cash transfer scheme. The cash transfer scheme will run between May and September, and will enable households to buy food for themselves and for their animals. It will mean that they won't have to sell what livestock they have left, at the worst possible time; if their livestock starves, or they are forced to sell their remaining animals to feed themselves, they would be left with nothing for the future.

The cash transfer scheme represents an opportunity for families to find alternatives ways to make a living, so that they can achieve longer-term food and income security.

Amina is 18 years old and was born with a clubfoot. Her family rely on their livestock. "Life for my family is very, very hard. The animals are our life" she says. With help from the cash transfer scheme, Amina's family hopes to be able to find other sources of income to help them to survive the dry season without so much suffering.

we have great hope to be able to restart our life. Everyone in my family profits from this" - Amina

Whatever gift you can afford will go towards the cash transfer scheme, and every gift will make a world of difference to a family in crisis:

A monthly gift of £30 will help a household to get through the difficult months and to become self-sufficient.
A single gift of £31 will provide animal feed for two goats and one sheep per household (these animals have previously been provided by CBM and its partner)
A single gift of £58 will provide supplimentary animal feed for a herd of livestock, per household
A single gift of £24 will provide animal management training for two households

Please help us to provide a sustainable tomorrow for people like Amina.